One of the largest school systems in the country ironically goes virtually unnoticed by many in the education field. This quiet school district also posts some pretty remarkable numbers, yet few give it even a passing thought.
The Department of Defense (DoD) has been running their system of schools since shortly after World War II (stateside schools were already in place) without much fanfare, and with limited funding. But with a 97 percent high school graduation rate, this school system apparently doesn't need a big budget or a lot of hoopla to turn out exemplary students.
The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) is the general umbrella that covers the Department of Defense's international schools, also known as Department of Defense Dependent Schools (DoDDS) overseas, and the stateside schools, also known as Department of Defense Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools (DDESS). This school system is for the children of the men and women in our armed forces, stationed abroad or here in the United States, and the civilian employees of the Department of Defense. About 80 percent of the total enrollment in DoDEA schools is made up of children of enlisted military personnel.
In all, DoDEA includes 222 publicly funded schools in 21 separate districts located in 14 different countries, seven states, Guam and Puerto Rico. The majority of the DoDEA's overseas schools are located in Europe and the Pacific Rim, while the stateside schools are in the eastern and southeastern United States. Over 8,000 teachers work within this school system and over 100,000 students fill the classrooms each year.
Approximately half of the individual high schools in the DoDEA's system are small, under 250 students. Based on the National Assessment of Educational Progress from 1998 to 2000 for grades four through eight, DoDEA students ranked at or near the top in every subject-reading, writing, math and science. The same holds true for the results of the Terra Nova Achievement Test, which is given to DoDEA students in grades three through 11. In 2002, the 3,066 DoDEA graduating seniors earned an impressive $28 million in scholarships and grants.
While in some ways the schools of DoDEA are quite different from typical civilian public schools, in many ways they are very similar. These schools offer a comprehensive list of course offerings in each of their schools, domestic and abroad. This includes an impressive list of course offerings in career and technical education, which DoDEA calls Professional Technical Studies.
Within the DoDEA's Professional Technical Studies are four strands-Business Computer Studies, Communications Technology, Engineering and Scientific Technology and Health, Human Services and Careers. Falling under Business Computer Studies are accounting and finance, applied business and computer application, business and office principles, computer science, and marketing and management. Under Communications Technology are electronic communications technology, graphic communications technology and video communications technology. The Engineering and Scientific Technology strand includes architectural studies, pre-engineering and electronic studies and network technology. Falling within the Health, Human Services and Careers strand are automotive technology, career decision making, cosmetology and family and consumer sciences. Availability of some of the above courses is dependent on school size and local resources.
John Bearss of the technical education branch of the DoDEA says, "Because Professional Technical Studies encompasses so much, we appeal to a large cross section of students."
The DoDEA is currently in the process of renovating the Professional Technical Studies to enhance the vocational course offerings. Bearss notes that their schools always had strong business programs, but vocational education wasn?t always given the attention it deserved. In response to this, the DoDEA has begun to implement programs that lead to industry-wide certification, where the curriculum itself is somewhat universal across the industry.
One example of this is Cisco Networking Academy, which was offered in 12 high schools last year, and will be offered in even more in the coming years. After two years in the Cisco Networking Academy program, students can take the CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) exam, which is widely recognized throughout the industry. A course on JAVA will be offered in a few DoDEA schools this year, but the 2003-2004 school year will be considered the implementation year, when JAVA will be the language of choice in advanced placement computer science courses throughout the school system. These course offerings and certifications will enable students to graduate and get a job immediately, if that is what they choose, because the certifications they earn in high school will be no different than those they would earn in college or through some other course of study.
Bearss says that a typical cycle for updating courses takes about six years, but with a few of the updates they have been able to fast-track the process by ordering supplies over the summer months and taking the next full school year to train teachers, funds permitting.
Funding has been one of the major hurdles in the upgrading process, as DoDEA schools do not qualify for some types of funding because they are considered a federal agency. Unlike typical school systems that receive both state and federal Department of Education funding, DoDEA schools receive only federal funding through the Department of Defense. Nevertheless, DoDEA schools still must meet stringent requirements, such as a passing grade on standardized tests such as the Terra Nova Achievement Exam. Stateside schools must also meet individual state requirements.
Operating a school system overseas has other challenges such as complying with host nation regulations, and for some course offerings, getting specific equipment into the host nation can be a challenge. And, since many career and technical programs offer an opportunity for students to intern in their chosen career paths, the overseas DoDEA schools have had to modify this by offering internships or practicums on base as opposed to within the local community.
The future for career and technical education offerings looks very bright in the DoDEA school system. Courses related to the airline industry; hospitality, specifically hotel management and culinary arts; and law enforcement, among others are being carefully considered for future school years. What's more, distance learning is currently being used for a limited number of courses but is also being looked at for more courses in the future. Right now, AP computer sciences and some language courses are being offered through distance learning. A computer repair class is also being offered on CD so that, with the supervision of a teacher, a student can participate in independent learning.
Even though the DoDEA school system operates on a different playing field from typical public schools, it shares the same goal with every school system around the country-to create intelligent, savvy students who enjoy learning. Bearing this goal in mind, the DoD stands fully committed to offering its students every opportunity available today and in the future.
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