From its first survey in 2020, the group Partners in PROMISE -- Protect the Rights Of Military children In Special Education, was able to show that military special education families are struggling.
With the launch of its 2021 survey, which will remain open for submissions through Oct. 9, 2020, it aims to find evidence-based solutions and actionable data.
Founded in January 2020 by four mothers, Partners in PROMISE focuses on education and advocacy. It serves as the link between special needs families, the Defense Department, legislators and established military service organizations to work toward solutions to education problems.
"Partners in PROMISE was founded because we knew how powerful telling our personal stories would be. We are a storytelling organization, but we also want to do the right thing and validate the educational challenges that our military families with children with special needs face," Founder and Executive Director Michelle Norman said in a news release. "And as we grow, the way we tell those stories and problem-solve collaboratively will develop as well."
The 2021 Military Special Education Survey offers a deep dive into subject areas including moving, individual school experiences and how much families pay out of pocket for supplemental services.
The group partnered with Blue Star Families, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of Alabama and other experts to craft the survey.
"We are thrilled to see how the collective voices of our military special education community can be translated into actionable data," Jennifer Barnhill, chief operating officer for Partners in PROMISE, said in the release.
Interested military spouses and family members can take the survey here.
It requires about 15 minutes to complete and can be taken anonymously, but respondents willing to share their email addresses will be entered to win one of five one-on-one consultations sessions with Grace Kim, Partner in PROMISE co-founder and a special education attorney.
Keep Up with the Ins and Outs of Military Life
For the latest military news and tips on military family benefits and more, subscribe to Military.com and have the information you need delivered directly to your inbox.
--Rebecca Alwine can be reached at rebecca.alwine@monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @rebecca_alwine.
