Last year, on May 15, 2025, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, signed the Homeschooling Support for Military-Connected Families memorandum under the direction of Executive Order 14191 (Expanding Educational Freedom and Opportunity for Families). It ordered the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness to review the current support structure and expand educational choice for military families.
The idea is to determine what is already in place, what needs to improve, or where gaps need to be addressed, and implement necessary resources. This, in turn, supports the overarching initiative to improve educational outcomes for students, including military-connected learners. It not only supports individualized learning approaches and parental accountability over the learning process, but it also offers flexibility and stability for the military lifestyle.
Approximately 12 percent of military-connected families choose the homeschooling option, including active-duty, National Guard, and Reserve, which is double the rate compared to their civilian counterparts.
Educational Performance Among Military-Connected Students
Overall, there is not a single entity that houses national data on the educational performance of military-connected students who are homeschooled versus those who are not. However, a combination of organizational research and government studies shows that homeschooled learners scored 15-25 percentile points higher than public-schooled students on standardized achievement tests.
The National Home Education Research Institute adds that homeschooled learners scored better on SAT and ACT tests for college admissions regardless of parental education backgrounds.
While the general national data remains consistent, educational success is dependent on a variety of factors, such as the quality of the curriculum and parental involvement. For military-connected families, more factors influence performance outcomes, like deployment and PCS disruptions.
Despite the lack of continuity that military families face, the National Center for Education Statistics shows that military-connected students who received more school support achieved higher academic efficacy and engagement. This is promising for families that opt for homeschooling because curriculum continuity and social stability, coupled with historic homeschooling performance data, could make a big difference.
Shared Resources and Insights
According to the Department of War, military families move on average every two to three years. This impacts both resources and local support networks for more than 1.6 million military children. Aside from the Department of War resources, organizations such as the Military Homeschoolers Association and Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) provide a variety of resources, which include toolkits and training. These resources are a helpful place to start, in addition to state-level resources.
Anecdotally, military parents who have walked the homeschooling path have expressed differing opinions and trains of thought, but connecting with a peer parent network offers a great way to gather insights from related experiences. Having a network supports a sense of community and connection.
“I homeschooled without help (first kid overseas on a military base and transitioned to Conus) and now I am home educating with ESA funds in Arizona with a different child.” Lisa Pierce (Navy parent)
Status Check
The Department is still conducting its review of the resources and support offered to military-connected families that homeschool. While the Executive Order was issued and the Department review has been initiated, stakeholder input and analysis on policy development are ongoing. There are no new resources and possibly additional benefits yet, such as military homeschooling stipends, federalized homeschooling funding programs, or changes to compulsory education laws.
Military families may expect a formal implementation plan that could address possible funding options and expanded access to more resources. Part of the plan could include pilot programs, establishing and maintaining homeschooled military student data, or expanding DoDEA access, but more time is needed to develop the policies and design the infrastructure.
In the meantime, Military OneSource, DoDEA, and other aforementioned support organizations exist that support military-connected students and families. Parents should stay connected with Department announcements and Military OneSource guidance for updated information.
