The Foreign Service Journal, December 2007

80 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 7 S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT Service — by e-mail at MEDECS @state.gov or by phone at (202) 663- 1815 — in the Department of State Medical Division to arrange for an assessment. Parents overseas should talk with their regional medical officer. The Financial Piece An important and complex aspect of the boarding school decisions made by families relates to the financial implications of their choices. The U.S. government provides education- al allowances to assist families posted overseas in financing an education similar to that available in a good pub- lic school in the U.S. Although this sounds straightforward, it can be quite complicated, depending on the post and the circumstances. Many posts around the world have private, English-language, American- curriculum international schools that are deemed by professional educators to meet this educational standard. In that case, the educational allowance for that post is based on the tuition charged by the school at post. Parents may, however, select other education- al options, including boarding school — but costs over and above the allowance for the day school at post must be paid by the family. Often, young people are not al- lowed to live at certain posts for secu- Continued on page 83 The first few weeks at school can be fraught with homesickness for students and anxiety for parents. Planning ahead can make everyone feel more comfortable. Continued from page 76