Surveys & Reports

This report from Partners in PROMISE examines how PCS transitions affect military-connected children receiving special education services. Our Fall 2025 survey identifies three core findings: significant disruptions and delays to IEP and 504 Plan services during PCS moves, the substantial burden these transitions place on caregivers navigating new schools and providers, and inconsistent implementation of EFMP across installations. Together, these findings point to a direct li

This report from Partners in PROMISE investigates the unique challenges and benefits of homeschooling for military-connected children with disabilities. Partners in PROMISE initiated this research due to a noticeable absence of data on special education experiences within the highly mobile military lifestyle. Our 2022 survey revealed that nearly 10% of military-connected families with children with disabilities opted for homeschooling. This finding prompted a deeper explorati

This report from Partners in PROMISE investigates the unique challenges of military-connected children with disabilities. The report "The State of Military-Connected Children with Disabilities" talks about the special problems military families face when their kids need extra help in school because of disabilities in 2025. It looks closely at important topics like how the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) can be made better. It also discusses how difficult it can be to

“If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.” ― Yogi Berra, former New York Yankees catcher. With October just around the corner, my excitement for postseason baseball is building, especially since the Cleveland Guardians have recently clinched their playoff spot! As a baseball enthusiast, I saw this as the perfect opportunity to combine my two passions, baseball and special education. The quote from Yankees’ great Yogi Berra perfectly illustrates the

Brief Background on Education Challenges for Military Students Military families move three times more frequently than civilian families and may move as many as nine times between when a child enters kindergarten and graduates from high school. Each time a military family relocates, they must re-establish their community connections, including medical, educational, therapeutic, and extracurricular. For military families with children with special needs, this may mean obtainin

Partners in PROMISE (PiP) created its own "Bill of Rights" for military families. It includes reminders of your rights for IEP meetings, consent requirements, dispute and resolution procedures, and Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). In the military community, it’s easy to miss important information due to our highly mobile lifestyle. PiP recognizes those challenges. Our survey data show a relationship between informed parents and positive outcomes in their child’s spec

Explore the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act's Section 1414 (d)(2) requirements for students with disabilities during school transfers. Understand your child's rights under this federal law. Discover recent guidance from the United States Department of Education Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, ensuring high-quality education for highly mobile students, including military children with disabilities. Unravel empowering tips for navigating the

Exploring the Lack of Data and Support for Adults in Military EFMP For the past three years, Partners in PROMISE conducted our annual special education surveys and heard from many adults enrolled in the military's Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP). Additionally, many of them are also parents of children enrolled in EFMP; highlighted was a lack of data collected on this population through their qualitative responses. Therefore, in 2022, we opened our annual survey to in

The Department of Defense released the new Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) Instruction, DoDI 1315.19 on June 23, 2023. This instruction is the EFMP standardization plan we have been waiting for! Hear what Partners in PROMISE has to say about this update.

Partners in PROMISE released its findings on March 15, 2023, alongside panelists from Joining Forces, the Department of Defense’s Office of Special Needs, the Department of Education and civilian researchers from The Ohio State University and leaders from the disability community, like the Learning Disability Association of America. Watch the recording and see the Q&A.

Are Existing Supports and Standard Outcome Measurements Effective for Military Children? Our 2020 and 2021 surveys established several baseline measures and show how the highly mobile military lifestyle impacts the ability to receive a FAPE guaranteed by the IDEA. We learned that despite having a cause to file due process complaints, many military families did not feel they could access recourse due to barriers presented by the highly mobile military lifestyle. We also learne

Partners in PROMISE volunteer Mary Monrose shares what she has learned about the 2023 NDAA: As a military spouse, when I first learned of the NDAA, I thought it was a law that only impacted my active duty spouse. There was talk about pay raises, changes to retirement packages and other benefits like whether or not the Commissaries would remain in operation. But what I didn’t realize is that we, as military spouses, can play a vital role in this process. We can engage our Co

Did you miss our data release with Easterseals' Candid Conversations? Did you attend, but not see your questions answered? Watch the recording and/or read the answers we compiled with the help of our panelists, Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission (MIC3) and EFMP Coalition partners EFM!

Partners in PROMISE along with researchers from The Ohio State University fielded our annual Military Special Education Survey from Sep - Oct 2021. We asked over 140 questions covering topics including special education, the Exceptional Family Member Program, employment, out-of-pocket costs, DoDEA, ABA therapy and more. Over 1,100 military families shared their stories with us. Military special education families are experiencing the following barriers to accessing a free and

Military children with special education needs are facing significant delays in getting services they need, according to a new report based on a parent survey. Written By Karen Jowers via MilitaryTImes The delays are systemic and parents are resigned to expecting those delays — findings which are no surprise to special needs families in general, said Jennifer Barnhill, chief operating officer and lead researcher for Partners in Promise, a nonprofit focused on protecting the

Want to learn more about Partners in PROMISE survey findings? Unsure how these results will be transformed into solutions or resources provided by the DOD, DOE, Partners in PROMISE or nonprofits like Easterseals? On February 18, 2022 at 1 pm EST join Partners in PROMISE and Easterseals DC, MD, VA for a Candid Conversation where we hope to answer your questions about our annual survey findings: Military Children in Special Education - The Real, Perceived and Unknown Barriers t

While the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) included groundbreaking updates to the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP), families continue to report a lack of communication on how these changes will benefit their daily lives. We know that our annual survey data + family stories = change. Take the survey today!

Survey Says Families Aren't Using EFMP Because They Don't Know How Army Community Service’s Exceptional Family Member Program hosts a “Make and Take IEP Binder Workshop” for parents at U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden. (DVIDS/Lisa Bishop) 2 Feb 2021Military.com | By Rebecca Alwine A Pentagon-wide program designed to help military families with special needs receive services has one overarching problem, according to the results of a new survey: People don't know enough about it. I

2020 Military Special Education Survey Findings Partners in PROMISE conducted our Military Special Education Survey from September 8 – October 9, 2020. The data uncovered gaps in special education services pre/post PCS transition and a general lack of understanding of what services and protections are available to EFMP/special education families. Read Detailed Findings (PDF) Our Recommendations Our Findings Survey Results

Partners in PROMISE was thrilled to sit down and discuss our 2020 accomplishments, the findings of our recent Military Special Education Survey, and our plans for the future on Resource Partners Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) podcast, "For the Sake of the Child." You can listen to Michelle Norman, Founder & Executive Director and Jennifer Barnhill, Chief Operating Officer on episode 151, Special Education and Military Families Partners in Promise: Part 1 here....