Pilot Program at Dahlgren

Dahlgren hosts DoDEA pilot program, opens application 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 Dahlgren. The priorities for new student applicants under the pilot program are:

• Returning students
• Students whose parent is an active-duty (single parent) service member with dependents
• 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

• Enrollment opens Feb 1 at 8:00 a.m. EST and will remain open throughout the pilot program.
• Open the application on 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.

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 (FAQ)

1. Who is eligible for the pilot program?
   • Children must be a dependent of a full-time, active duty service member with orders to Dahlgren.
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 factors are considered for enrollment?
   • School administrators will determine capacity at a specific grade level.
   • 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.
4. How do I enroll?
   • Enrollment opens Feb 1 at 8:00 a.m. EST and will remain open throughout the pilot program.
   • 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.
5. When will I know if my student is accepted?
   • School administrators will review applications 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.
6. Will transportation be provided?
   • Transportation to and from school for children living off the installation is not provided.
7. 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.
8. I am moving in June, July or August. Can I apply with my out-of-state address?
   • Yes, you can apply.
9. Are children of Reserve and Guard members that reside off base eligible for this program?
   • 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.
10. 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.
11. Are international officers eligible for the pilot program?
    • No. Congress authorized the pilot program for full-time, active-duty members of the Armed Forces.
12.  Is there before and after school care available for students who participate in the pilot program?
    • Parents will need to make arrangements for after-school care for students.
    • Before and/or after school services are offered through the Youth Activity Center. More information is available at (540) 653-8009 or here.
13. How long will families be given to make their decision if selected for the Pilot Program
    • 5 working days (excludes federal holidays, Saturday and Sunday)
14. 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.
15. Do I need to reapply each year for this program?
    • Yes, you will reapply each year.
16. Could my student be accepted one year and denied the following year?
    • Yes, it possible. However, the priorities will change after the first year of the program. Students enrolled the previous year will be given priority in school year 2024-2025.
17. 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.
18. 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.

Still have a question? Email us at DahlgrenPilotProgram@dodea.edu for more information about this pilot program.