Pilot Program at Camp Lejeune

Email us at CLCSPilot@dodea.edu for more information about this pilot program.

CLCS Pilot Opens Applications for Off-Base Children

To attend a Department of Defense Education Activity school in the contiguous United States, a student’s parent or guardian must 1) be a full-time, active-duty service member or full-time Department of Defense civilian employee and 2) reside in permanent on-base housing at an installation where DoDEA operates schools.

However, Congress recently authorized a pilot program through the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act that would expand that eligibility at four pilot sites, allowing for the children of full-time, active-duty military who reside off the military installation to attend a DoDEA brick-and-mortar school, provided space is available.

The purposes of the NDAA pilot program are to evaluate the feasibility and advisability of expanding enrollment in DoDEA schools and to determine how increased access to such schools will affect military and family readiness. Only students who are dependents of a full-time, active-duty service member with assignment orders to the selected pilot installation are eligible for enrollment.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the pilot program, students selected to participate in the program must be a dependent of a full-time, active-duty service member with orders to MCB Camp Lejeune or MCAS New River. The priorities for new student applicants under the pilot program are:

1. Returning students
2. Students whose parent is an active-duty (single parent) service member with dependents
3. Students whose parent is an active-duty (dual/married) service member with dependents

There are other factors that affect which students are selected for enrollment. For example, school administrators will determine capacity at a specific grade level. This availability also may change from year to year. Where two or more students qualify in the same category and grade, the student who submitted the first application will be accepted.

How to Enroll

• The application portal opens Feb 1 at 8:00 a.m. EST and remain open throughout the pilot program. 
• Open the application a personal computer or personal wireless device due to security limitations with Department of Defense computers. 
• Fill out an application for each student you want to enroll.

• If you receive the statement to the right, your application has been submitted. If you submitted your application and did not receive the statement below, please contact us, as you may need to resubmit your application

What You Need to Know

• Transportation to and from school for children living off the installation is not provided.
• Applying for this program does not guarantee enrollment. Parents should still enroll their children in the local school available to them.

Next Steps

School administrators will review applications before the start of the school year and will notify parents or guardians about whether there is space for the student to attend (see timeline below). If space is not available, the student will be placed on a wait list.

Since changes in enrollment occur throughout the school year, the school will continue to review applications and select students for participation where space is available.

Timeline for SY24-25

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who is eligible for the pilot program?
   • Children must be a dependent of a full-time, active-duty service member with orders to MCB Camp Lejeune or MCAS New River.
2. Is there an age requirement for students to enroll in the pilot program?  
   • The Pilot Program at each military installation follows the DoDEA Policy on early childhood entrance age requirements.  For the Pre-Kindergarten program, the student must be 4 years old on or before September 1st.  For Kindergarten, the student must be 5 years old on or before September 1st.  For First Grade, the student must be 6 years old on or before September 1st.  For possible exceptions and details please see DoDEA AI 1344.01, Section 8, page 27. 
3. What are the priorities for accepting new student applicants?
   • Returning students.
   • Single active-duty service member with dependents.
   • Dual active-duty service member with dependents.
4. What factors are considered for enrollment?
   • School administrators will determine capacity at a specific grade level.
5. Where two or more students qualify in the same category and grade, the first submitted application will be accepted.
   • Availability also may change from year to year.
6. How do I enroll?
   • Enrollment opens Feb 1 at 8:00 a.m. EST.
   • Fill out an application for each student you want to enroll.
   • The application is on the school’s site.
   • Open the application on a personal computer or personal wireless device due to security limitations with Department of Defense computers.
7. When will I know if my student is accepted?
   • School administrators will review applications before the start of the school year and will notify parents or guardians about whether there is space for the student to attend.
   • If space is not available, the student will be placed on a wait list.
   • Applying for this program does not guarantee enrollment. Parents should still enroll their children in the local school available to them.
8. Will transportation be provided?
   • Transportation to and from school for children living off the installation is not provided.
9. What if I am on the wait list for installation housing? Should I apply?
   • It depends. Families with a 90-school-day waitlist letter from housing do not need to apply to the pilot; apply through the normal DoDEA process. If, however, you are on the waitlist and do not have the 90-school-day letter, we recommend applying.
10. I am moving in June, July or August. Can I apply with my out-of-state address?
    • Yes, you can apply.
11. Can I choose which school my child attends on Camp Lejeune?
    • No. It will be selected for you, though we will work to ensure your student is at the school closest to your place of work.
12. Are children of DoD civilians that reside off base eligible for this program?
    • No. According to the language in the National Defense Authorization Act that authorized this program, it is only open to dependents of a full-time, active-duty member of the Armed Forces.
13. Are children of Reserve and Guard members that reside off base eligible for this program? What if they’re in an activated status?
    • It depends on your orders. In general, if your orders are Title 10 for more than 365 days, then yes. If your orders are Title 32, then no.
    • DoDEA will review orders prior to final enrollment. For now, we recommend you apply.
    • The orders must assign the servicemember to the installation that is participating in the pilot program.
14. Are international officers eligible for the pilot program?
    • No. Congress authorized the pilot program for full-time, active-duty service members of the U.S. Armed Forces.
15. Will before and after school care available for students who participate in the pilot program?
    • Parents will need to arrange for after-school care for students.
    • Before and/or after school services for children through fifth grade are offered through Marine Corps Community Services at Stone Street Youth Pavilion, Tarawa Terrace Youth Pavilion and New River Child Development Center on a space-available basis. Transportation is provided to and from Camp Lejeune Community Schools each morning and afternoon. Families in need of before or after school care may request care through www.militarychildcare.com. Care also is offered on teacher workdays and winter break/spring break, except on designated holidays or other holiday-related days when the program may be closed. For more information, access the MCCS Lejeune-New River website for the Child & Youth Program at www.mccslejeune-newriver.com/cyp or by calling CYP Resource and Referral at (910) 450-0553/54/55.
16. How long will families be given to make their decision if selected for the Pilot Program?
    • Within five working days (excludes federal holidays, Saturday and Sunday)
17. Do I need to notify my current school if my child is accepted for the Pilot Program?
    • Yes, if a student accepts the offer to attend the DoDEA school; the student must officially withdraw from current school.
18. Do I need to reapply each year for this program?
    • Yes, you will reapply each year.
19. Could my student be accepted one year and denied the following year?
    • Yes, it possible. However, students enrolled the previous year will be given priority in school year 2024-2025.
20. What happens when the pilot program ends? Will they be removed from the school?
    • The pilot program is schedule to end after school year 2028-2029. At that point, your student would continue school at his or her designated local school.
21. We are moving off base. What happens now?
    • Your student is on continued enrollment through the end of the school year. At that point, you will need to either 1) send your student to your designated local school or 2) apply to the pilot.
    • Your student is not eligible to re-register, as moving off base changed your qualification status.