Parents & Students

Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Links

Non-DoD Schools Program

DDESS Elibility and Registration

DDESS schools provide a tuition-free education to eligible students. The following information summarizes the eligibility criteria.

Eligibility within the Continental United States (CONUS)

Dependent children of military members and civilian employees of the Department of Defense occupying (or within 90 days of being provided) permanent living quarters on any military installation served by a DDESS school program.

Eligibility within territories, possessions and commonwealths of the United States.

Students are eligible if they are dependents of:

military and civilian employees of DoD living on the installations.
military members on active duty, stationed or home-ported in the territory, possession, or commonwealth and not residing in permanent quarters.
military members on active duty who have been assigned to a remote location or unaccompanied tour of duty and their dependents have been authorized by designated location move orders to reside in the territory, possession, or commonwealth.
full-time DoD civilian employees, occupying a position that is subject by policy and practice to transfer in a territory, possession, or commonwealth and not residing in government quarters.
full-time, permanent, professional excepted service employees of the DDESS Arrangement not residing in permanent quarters on a military installation

Note: DDESS is not authorized to enroll students whose sponsor does not meet the eligibility criteria.

DoDDS Cuba Eligibility

The W.T. Sampson school follows the eligibility requirements of the DoDDS schools overseas.

Eligibility Governance

DDESS eligibility is outlined in:

Proof of Eligibility

See the list of documents required to determine eligibility and register a child in the DDESS schools.