WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The Department of the Air Force released its 2021 assessment that details how states provide support to Air and Space Force families.
The annual evaluation measured ease of licensure portability across state lines and support for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade public education surrounding installations.
Since the first assessment released in 2020, the Department of the Air Force, states and installation communities have diligently worked toward the removal of barriers to military family readiness, which faces significant challenges due to frequent relocation.
As a result, more than 60 pieces of state legislation targeting military spouse licensure have increased access to resources for military spouses, removed barriers, accelerated process timelines and reduced costs. Additionally, states are increasingly working together to create and expand interstate compacts and reciprocity initiatives that allow military spouses the ability to use licenses obtained in different states than which they live due to military-driven relocation.
Similarly, there are growing discussions between schools districts, local education agencies, local governments and the Department of the Air Force, focused on how communities can understand the distinct needs of military-connected students in their schools, and provide the best support and broadest opportunities possible. Many of these discussions turned into action resulting in installations seeing improvement in overall education scores.
The Department of the Air Force collaborated with national-level policy professionals and subject matter experts to develop quantitative criteria and analytic frameworks to assess states’ support of military families annually.
The information collected is also one of several factors considered as part of the Department of the Air Force strategic basing process.
** Editor's note: The data in the 2021 assessment detailing states' support to Air and Space Force families has been updated to correct a coding error.