Military Interstate Children's Compact Tennessee State Council (MIC3)

The Council of State Governments (CSG), in cooperation with the US Department of Defense, drafted this Interstate Compact to address some of the educational challenges transitioning children of military families face. Since July 2006, CSG worked with a variety of federal, state and local officials as well as national stakeholder organizations representing education groups and military families to create the new interstate agreement.

While the Compact is not exhaustive in its coverage, it does address the key issues encountered by military families: eligibility, enrollment, placement, and graduation. In addition, the Compact provides for a detailed governance structure at both the state and national levels with built-in enforcement and compliance mechanisms.

The goal of the Compact is to replace the widely varying policies affecting transitioning military students. The Compact leverages consistency: It uses a comprehensive approach that provides a consistent policy in every school district and every state including Washington D.C. The Compact addresses key educational transition issues encountered by military families including enrollment, placement, attendance, eligibility, and graduation.

Children of active duty members of the uniformed services, National Guard and Reserve on active duty orders, commissioned officers of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the United States Public Health Service (USPHS), and members or veterans who are medically discharged or retired for one year are eligible for assistance under the Compact. The Compact also covers students of members who perish on active duty for a period of one year following their death.

TENNESSEE INTERSTATE CHILDREN'S COMPACT ADOPTED LANGUAGE Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-12-301

TENNESSEE INTERSTATE CHILDREN'S COMPACT EXTENDED TO GUARD AND RESERVE CHILDREN ADOPTED LANGUAGE Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-6-313

Tennessee National Guard & Reserve Covered Under the Tennessee Military Interstate Children's Compact 

• During the 2022 Tennessee Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission (TN-MIC3) State Council Meeting, the body voted to include ALL Guard and Reserve Children under the Compact language
• CommissionerDeanna McLaughlin worked with Nathan James, Director of Legislative Affairs, Tennessee State Board of Education to develop Bill language
• Nathan James obtained Montgomery County, Tennessee Senator Bill Powers and Anderson County, Tennessee Representative John Ragan as sponsors for the Bill 
• Bill Summary:  Education - As introduced, extends the benefits and opportunities provided to children of active duty members of the uniformed services in the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children to school-aged children in the household of a member of any reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, including members of the Tennessee army and air national guard who are enrolled in any of the grades kindergarten through 12. - Amends TCA Title 49.
• Approved by the State Legislature 2023-04
• Signed by Governor Lee 2023-04-28
• Effective date(s) 04/28/2023