THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | DECEMBER 2024 83 Communicate with the school at the safe haven location. Discuss with your family early on—preferably before an evacuation looms—where you would safe haven. Reach out to the school in the place where you will land, and check their website for registration requirements. You will need proof of residence/ physical presence in the school district (mortgage, temporary quarters, or shortterm lease agreements) to enroll. Maintaining the routine of attending school will help when your children go back to school at post. If you have high schoolers, try to find a school with the same or comparable Advanced Placement (AP) or IB class offerings. Connect with GCLO and the Office of Overseas Schools. Both GCLO and the Office of Overseas Schools can provide information and suggest tools to guide you during an evacuation. REOs can assist with getting transcript and course information from the Department of State (DOS) assisted school, and they can communicate with the school administration regarding any available virtual options. In the Washington, D.C., area, GCLO’s education and youth team can connect you with public school registrars and student support offices that provide guidance and answer questions about registration and student placement. You’re Not Alone Sometimes it can feel like you’re the only family in the Foreign Service community ever to face these specific educational issues. But you’re not alone. Whether you’re grappling with early childhood education, special needs issues, college applications, or even an evacuation, chances are there’s a resource out there to help you make wise decisions. Contact the GCLO team with your education questions at GCLOAskEducation@state.gov. n
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