Academic Support Services

The Non-DoD Schools Program (NDSP) offers academic support to help students obtain an education normally provided free of charge in the U.S. In addition to fees associated with tuition and transportation, this academic support includes funding which can be used for tutoring, required academic courses and / or materials, testing, and transcript support. Some academic support is limited to students enrolled in At-Post schools (i.e., not homeschool, virtual school, or boarding school). Academic Support must be pre-authorized by your regional Education Specialist and is only available during the calendar school year.

Types of Academic Support

NDSP support may include the following:

• Foreign Language Support – To assist when a child is attending a school where instruction is in a foreign language the child does not know well enough to progress in the curriculum.
• Failing/ At risk of Failing – The student is failing or at risk of failing and needs support to successfully complete an academic course or to progress to the next grade level.
• Grade Placement – The school requires additional instruction to enable the child to enter a grade, remain in the same grade, or complete a grade in the school.
• Transition – The child is transitioning into a new school and is struggling to adapt to the new curriculum.
• Supplemental Coursework – Academic subjects not offered at the current international school but are customarily offered in schools in the DMV such as U.S. history, civics, American literature, English grammar, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and dual enrollment courses.
• Response to Intervention – The Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) is used as pre-referral intervention for students who are suspected of having special education needs.
• English as a Second Language – The child's first language is not English, and instruction is in English. This support is only available when the school does not have an English as a second language teacher.
• Gifted Education – Gifted resourcing may include costs for the school's Gifted and Talented program, additional materials, and courses. Gifted support includes major core subjects, but not art, music, or physical education.
• Summer Assistance – Refers to the break between school years. Summer assistance is subject specific. Summer assistance may be approved on a case-by-case basis to make up critical instructional time lost due to evacuation, a permanent change of station, when the student will not be promoted to the next grade or other unforeseen emergency situations. Enrollment into summer school or summer enrichment programs is not authorized.
• Assessment Fees – Costs for mandatory exams such as International Baccalaureate, College Board Advanced Placement, International General Certificate of Secondary Education are reimbursable. Also, the PSAT is an authorized academic support for students in grades 8-10. NDSP will only fund the difference between the US exam fee and the international exam fee for SAT and ACT.
• Transcript Evaluation – Is used to help aid parents and the receiving school ensure appropriate student placement when transferring between school systems. It provides a professional analysis of the student’s current and past academic grades and coursework.
• Dual Enrollment Courses – Allow student access to gain college credit hours while still in high school. The course must yield high school credit (in addition to college credit hours) to be considered for supplemental funding.

When requesting NDSP academic support, a written statement on school letterhead or report card may be required to substantiate the request.