.png)
Research & Reports
Military families’ experiences are at the heart of our research. Through national surveys, family perspectives, and research partnerships, Partners in PROMISE examines the barriers military-connected children with disabilities face in accessing education and support. Explore our reports to understand the challenges, discover opportunities for improvement, and see how family voices inform our advocacy for lasting change.
The State of Military-Connected Children with Disabilities Report 2025
Examining systemic barriers and solutions for military-connected children with disabilities.
2025 Military Special Education Survey: Initial Findings
Visualizing survey findings on military families’ special education experiences, challenges.
Homeschooling Report: Challenges for Military-Connected Children with Disabilities
Exploring homeschooling benefits and challenges for military-connected children with disabilities.
A Game Plan for Educators: Long-Term Planning for Military Children in Special Education
Helping educators plan for military students’ long-term special education success.
latest survey
2025 Findings: Losing Ground After Every Move
Every military move brings a new beginning—but for children with disabilities, it can also interrupt essential educational support. Losing Ground After Every Move presents findings from Partners in PROMISE’s Fall 2025 national survey, examining how PCS transitions affect military-connected children receiving special education services and the families advocating for them.
The report highlights three central challenges: disruptions and delays in IEP and 504 Plan services, the substantial burden on caregivers navigating new schools and providers, and inconsistent EFMP implementation across installations. Together, these findings reveal how difficult it can be for families to maintain continuity of support while meeting the demands of military life.
The findings also connect access to special education services with families’ decisions about continuing military service. By bringing these experiences into focus, the report underscores why educational continuity and dependable family support matter to both children’s futures and military retention. View and download the full report to explore the findings.
What happens to a military child’s education when every move means starting over?
Stories Behind the Numbers
Behind every statistic is a military family navigating the challenges of raising a child with a disability while serving our nation. Their experiences reveal the barriers, sacrifices, and resilience that numbers alone cannot capture.
At Partners in PROMISE, we believe family voices are our most powerful source of insight. By elevating their stories alongside research-driven data, we turn lived experiences into meaningful advocacy, stronger support systems, and lasting change for military-connected children with disabilities.
“We both had missions to take care of – I had our family’s mission, and he had the military mission.”
- Crystal DeVoss Mahany
What Is Family Readiness? A Military Family’s Story
“Every PCS move means starting the process anew.”
- Dr. Alicia Brengman
From Guilt to Advocacy: A Military Mom’s Story
“We were spending more time fighting for access than our son was benefiting from the services themselves.”
- Ashly Barta
The Unexpected Gift of Homeschooling a Military Child with Disabilities
“We deserve systems that are built for us, not ones we have to fight through every time we move.”
- Taryn Ross
Purple Up and Stand Tall: One Military Kid’s Story
“What many people didn’t see was that behind her determination was a child who also needed support, guidance, and understanding.”
- Caridad Vazquez
Nonspecific Diagnoses in Military Families
“Military families should not have to choose between protecting a teenager’s privacy and having the information they need to coordinate their child’s care.”
- Becca Kofonow
latest updates
