Homeschoolers should check with their local commander to see if the host country's rules allow this option, DoDEA says. If the homeschool program is accredited, the grades will be accepted. If the program is not accredited, the DoD school will test the student to ensure that their grade placement is correct. In fact, the agency offers some assistance to parents who decide to educate their children themselves. This lets homeschoolers make up courses they need for college or other reasons.
Overseas bases vary widely in their handling of homeschooling parents.
Sponsors also must provide their children's test results annually. Exams from a nationwide testing service are recommended, say the guidelines. Misawa has a Home Educators Support Group, which circulates these local guidelines, lists activities, and posts newsletters. A similar group serves military families on Guam. Support groups are active at Ramstein AB, Germany, and in the Sembach and Kaiserslautern area of Germany.