# 2025-20769: DoD Asks States to Fix School Headaches for Military Kids 2025-20769, Request for Information for 2027 Department of Defense (DoD) State Policy Priorities Impacting Service Members and Their Families, is a Federal Register notice from Defense Department published 2025-11-24, effective Public comments were accepted for 30-days until July 17, 2025. (as of 2026-06-08). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-20769 - As of: 2026-06-08 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Document number: 2025-20769 - Title: Request for Information for 2027 Department of Defense (DoD) State Policy Priorities Impacting Service Members and Their Families - Type: Notice - Agencies: Defense Department - Citation: 90 FR 52921 - Published: 2025-11-24 - Effective: Public comments were accepted for 30-days until July 17, 2025. - Comments close: not stated - Significant: no - Touches household money: no - Regulation identifier numbers: none - Last updated: 2026-06-08 ## In one line DoD Asks States to Fix School Headaches for Military Kids ## Summary The Department of Defense is asking for ideas to help states make life easier for military members and their families in 2027. They want to fix problems like school changes for kids and retirement benefits for military spouses. This effort could lead to new state policies that save money and reduce stress for military families starting soon. ## Abstract DoD published a request for information in the Federal Register that provided an opportunity for the public to submit issues that have an impact on Service members and their families, where state governments are the primary agents for making positive change. Each year, DoD selects State Policy Priorities for states to consider that represent barriers resulting from the transience and uncertainty of military life. For example, DoD has asked states to consider remedies to improve school transitions for children in active duty military families to overcome problems with records transfer, class and course placement, qualifying for extra-curricular activities, and fulfilling graduation requirements. The DoD will consider the public submissions in setting those priorities. ## Effects PRIA read - Education Policy Implementation Support: benefit, medium. The DoD designated "Education Policy Implementation and Information Enhancements" as a State Policy Priority (Approved 2025). States are encouraged to clarify requirements, improve communication, and streamline access to education information to help military-connected children and families during… - Open Enrollment Flexibility for Schools: benefit, medium. The DoD has designated Open Enrollment Flexibility as a State Policy Priority (Approved 2022). States can allow military-connected students to remain in their current school placement or access alternate enrollment options after a relocation to reduce disruption to their education. - Support for Special Education Continuity: benefit, high. The DoD designated "State Support for Military Families with Special Educational Needs" as a State Policy Priority (Approved 2024). States are encouraged to ensure timely establishment of special education services and reduce procedural burdens when military-connected children with disabilities rel… - In-State Tuition Continuity for Dependents: benefit, high. The DoD designated "In-State Tuition Continuity" as a State Policy Priority in 2019 to address higher education cost impacts on military dependents due to frequent relocations. States can adopt policies to preserve in-state tuition eligibility for military-connected students. - Streamlined WIC Access for Military Families: benefit, medium. The DoD recognizes barriers military families face accessing WIC benefits during relocations and supports recommendations for improving verification and income eligibility processes. The DoD asked states to consider permitting remote or virtual advance enrollment for WIC applicants. - State Exemption for DoD Family Child Care Homes: benefit, medium. The DoD designated a State Exemption for DoD Family Child Care Homes as a State Policy Priority (Approved 2023). States can exempt in-home child care providers certified by the DoD from duplicative State licensure to improve access to family child care for military families. - Military Spouse Employment Preference: benefit, high. The DoD designated Military Spouse Employment Preference as a State Policy Priority (Approved 2024) and noted military spouses face a 20% unemployment rate. States can enact hiring and procurement preferences to help military spouses find work. - Licensure Portability for Military Spouses: benefit, high. The DoD acknowledged challenges with non-portable state occupational licensing and has designated Enhanced Spouse License Portability and Occupational Licensure Interstate Compacts as State Policy Priorities (designations dating from 2011, 2017, 2020). States can adopt compacts or reciprocity to ma… - Medicaid Waiver Portability for Children: benefit, high. The DoD designated "Retention of Medicaid Waiver Status" as a State Policy Priority (Approved 2013) to address lack of Medicaid waiver portability for military-connected children with disabilities. States can act to preserve waiver status when families relocate so services continue. - Household Goods Move Oversight: benefit, medium. The DoD acknowledged concerns about household goods moving services and supports suggestions for enhanced state-level consumer protections and oversight of movers used during PCS moves. Improved oversight could change dispute resolution and consumer protections for military families who move. - Housing Affordability Protections for Military Families: benefit, medium. The DoD acknowledged military family housing affordability challenges and comments recommending state-level rent control or enhanced interest rate protections for military families. The Department appreciates efforts to enhance financial protections beyond Federal requirements. ## Related documents - [2026-19160](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19160): Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 16, 17, and 35, 2026-09-18 - [2026-18317](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-18317): Updated Definition of “Waters of the United States”, 2026-09-09 - [2026-11505](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-11505): DoD Assistance to Non-Government, Entertainment-Oriented Media Productions, 2026-06-09 - [2026-09067](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-09067): Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Mitigating Risks Related to Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (DFARS Case 2021-D0…, 2026-05-07 - [2026-09038](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-09038): Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Disclosure of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (DFARS Case 2024-D021), 2026-05-07 - [2025-20402](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-20402): Updated Definition of “Waters of the United States”, 2025-11-20 ## Sources - [2025-20769 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/11/24/2025-20769/request-for-information-for-2027-department-of-defense-dod-state-policy-priorities-impacting-service) - [2025-20769 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-11-24/pdf/2025-20769.pdf) ## Related - [Previous: 2025-20768, Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee; Notice of Meeting; Establishmen…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-20768) - [Next: 2025-20770, Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; Trafficking Victim Assis…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-20770) - [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-20769 (as of 2026-06-08).