Pilot Program at Maxwell AFB

Maxwell Elementary and Middle School hosts first DoDEA pilot program, opens application for off-base children

To attend a Department of Defense Education Activity school in the continental 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 and 2) reside in on-base housing. However, Congress recently authorized a pilot program through the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act that would expand that eligibility at four pilot sites. It allows for the children of full-time, active-duty military who do not live on an installation to attend a DoDEA school, provided space is available.

Maxwell Air Force Base, home to Maxwell Elementary and Middle School, is the first locale to introduce this pilot program. The school currently serves 350 students. To launch this pilot, DoDEA Americas collaborated with installation commanders to determine how to prioritize enrollment of new students in such a way that supports military readiness. This pilot program is blazing a trail for the other Americas sites, which will model efforts after this one.

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 Maxwell Air Force Base or Gunter Annex. The priorities for new student applicants next school year are:

• Students who were enrolled at Maxwell Elementary and Middle School the previous school year.
• Siblings of students enrolled under the pilot program.

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 for next school year (2024-2025) opens February 1 9:00 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 continually review applications for availability 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.

Timeline for SY24-25

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Who is eligible for the four-year pilot program?
   • Children must be a dependent of a full-time, active duty service member with orders to Maxwell Air Force Base or Gunter Annex
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?
   • Students who were enrolled at Maxwell Elementary and Middle School the previous school year.
   • Siblings of students enrolled under the pilot program.
4. 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.
5. How do I enroll?
   • Enrollment for next school year (2024-2025) 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.
6. 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.
   • Since changes in enrollment occur throughout the school year, the school will review pending applications on the posted timeline.
   • Applying for this program does not guarantee enrollment. Parents should still enroll their children in the local school available to them.
7. Will transportation be provided?
   • Transportation to and from school for children living off the installation is not provided.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. Are international officers eligible for the pilot program?
    • No. Congress authorized the pilot program for full-time, active-duty members of the Armed Forces.
11.  Is there before and after school care available for students who participate in the pilot program?
    • Yes, care may be available through the 42d FSS Child and Youth Programs on Maxwell and Gunter by registering at www.militarychildcare.com.
12. How long will families be given to make their decision if selected for the Pilot Program
    • Within 5 working days (excludes federal holidays, Saturday and Sunday)
13. 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.
14. Do I need to reapply each year for this program?
    • Yes, you will reapply each year.
15. Could my student be accepted one year and denied the following year?
    • Yes, it possible. However, students enrolled the previous year are given priority in the next school year.
16. 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.
17. 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 maxwellpilot@dodea.edu for more information about this pilot program.