Determinining Eligibility

Female teacher helping female student

Mexican dance.

Eligibility to attend a non-DoD school at Government expense is limited to command-sponsored dependents only.  A command sponsored dependent is a minor residing with the active duty military or full-time DoD civilian sponsor at an OCONUS location where an accompanied-by-dependent tour is authorized; the sponsor is authorized to serve that tour, and where the dependents meet the following conditions:

  • The dependent is eligible for travel to or from the member’s permanent duty station (PDS).
  • The dependent is authorized by the appropriate authority to be at the member’s PDS.
  • As a result of the dependent’s residence in the vicinity of the sponsor’s PDS, the sponsor is entitled to station allowances at the “with family” rate.

Assistant Secretary of Defense (Force Management Policy Directive-Type Memorandum, “Authority to Provide Financial Assistance for Education of Certain Defense Dependents Overseas,” August 17, 2000 creates an exception to policy in English-speaking countries for DoD sponsors:

  •  Assigned to a Department of State activity, or
  • Independently assigned as a PEP  officer to a host nation program.

MIMIMUM AGE REQUIREMENTS for student placement in the NDSP are as follows ( DoDEA Regulation 2000.3, "Student Placement", March 26, 2004, as amended):

  • Northern Hemisphere School Year (August – June):
    • An eligible DoD dependent must reach his/her fifth birthday by October 31st of the current school year
  • Southern Hemisphere School Year (March - December):
    • An eligible DoD dependent must reach his/her fifth birthday by March 31st of the current school year
  • For admission to grades 1 through 12, an eligible DoD dependent who has reached his sixth but not 21st birthday by October 31st of the current school year will be placed in the appropriate grade based upon documentation from the school previously attended in accordance with local school policy.
  • Children ages three through five with developmental delays and disabilities may be eligible for services if they meet DoDEA special education criteria.