Students from military families are often misunderstood in US public schools – a retired military officer and behavioral health expert explains what schools can do

Students from military families have specific experiences and needs that require support from their schools.

By: Nikki R Wooten, University of South Carolina, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: October 9, 2026

Words: 1,342

Last Updated: 1 week, 2 days ago

By Nikki R Wooten, University of South Carolina

Over 1.4 million children had a parent or caregiver who served in the U.S. armed forces in 2024.

Among active-duty families, 2.4% of military children had both parents serving in the military. Another 4% lived in single-parent households.

More than 90% of these children attend U.S. public schools. Over 67,000 attend Department of Defense schools located in the U.S. and foreign countries. …

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