There are currently 2,000,000 military-connected students whose parents are active duty, members of the National Guard, Reserves or Veterans of the Unites States Military in our nation.

We are aware of the educational challenges surrounding military-connected students and we are committed to assist them with their educational challenges.

The military-connected students face the following challenges:

·      Separations from a parent or caregiver due to deployments;

·      High mobility rates – active duty families move every two to three years (This is approximately three times more often than the civilian population. Students often experience six to nine moves during their PK-12th grade school education);

·      Academic and social challenges attributed to frequent school changes, deployment of a parent(s), return of a deployed parent, injury to or death of a parent, etc.;

·      Difficulties qualifying for, receiving, or continuing special needs services due to differences in regulation interpretations, testing required to enroll in or receive special needs services, and resource availability in school districts;

·      Understanding and interpreting new school regulations and policies;

·      Elevated stress – making new friends and finding a new peer group in a new school; adjustment to a new school, community, and home;

·      At-risk for depression and anxiety due to relocation, deployment of a parent(s), etc.; and,

·      Adjusting to curriculum and instructional methods or school climate/culture that may differ from school to school.

It is the McAllen ISD vision that our educators (teachers, counselors, paraprofessionals, principals, and others) become aware of the social, emotional, and learning challenges specific to military-connected students and find ways to support the unique needs of their students.

Relocation

We ask that military connected families inform the campus academic counselor about their connection to the military. The campus academic counselor will ensure that the student is introduced to the campus and school process, provide information about extra-curricular activities and clubs, tutoring opportunities, student code of conduct; and if needed, (Sp Education, Dyslexia, RtI, or Section 504) academic support is provided.

Enrollment and Registration

McAllen ISD serves all kinder to 12th grade students and is located in McAllen, Texas.

K-12th grade Enrollment https://www.mcallenisd.org/apps/pages/enrollnow

McAllen ISD also offers Pre-Kinder Programs. You can find information in the following link:

Pre-Kinder Enrollment https://www.mcallenisd.org/apps/pages/pre-k

Academic Planning

Students and parents are welcome to view the course sequence and advanced classes available on campus at the following links:

McAllen ISD Curriculum Bulletin https://www.mcallenisd.org/apps/pages/curriculum_bulletin

McAllen ISD Career and Technology https://www.mcallenisd.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1097390&type=d&pREC_ID=1382855

Counseling and Support Services

For counseling support services contact your campus academic counselor. You may call the campus or access the counselor’s individual campus webpage found in the right lower hand corner at the following link:

https://www.mcallenisd.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1078713&type=d&pREC_ID=1487972

Campus-based Military Liaison

The campus-base military liaison (c-bml) is the campus counselor. The c-bml coordinates staff development opportunities for the campus staff, coordinates Purple Up activities for students, serves as the military connected student ambassador sponsor, and assist with the yearly district’s board proclamation.

See Counselors’ list below:

Military family counselor list