Hegseth’s homeschooling order gives military families the options they need 

Military life means constant change. For more than 1 million school-aged children in military families, this often means moving six to nine times before graduating high school — switching schools mid-year, leaving friends behind, and catching up academically in new classrooms. These frequent relocations disrupt not only education but also social and emotional well-being. 

Recognizing these unique challenges, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s recent directive to explore homeschooling options for military families is both timely and essential.  

Hegseth’s call reflects a growing recognition of what many military parents already understand: The traditional school model doesn’t always accommodate the unique demands of military life. 

With homeschooling rates among military families nearing 13 percent, more than double the national average, it’s clear these families seek stability, flexibility and, most importantly, continuity in their children’s education.  

But homeschooling alone isn’t enough, as families face state-by-state regulatory hurdles, overseas restrictions, deployment unpredictability and a lack of local support networks. This is why expanding educational choice through nationwide online charter and magnet schools designed specifically for military children could be transformative. 

Military kids move frequently, which disrupts friendships, academic progress and emotional well-being. A 2021 Blue Star Families Survey found that 75 percent of active-duty families with school-aged children reported that at least one child had been homeschooled to maintain stability. 

A 2019 Military Child Education Coalition study further reveals that 34 percent of military children face academic setbacks due to relocations and often struggle to align with new state standards or curricula. 

One military parent, Katie Rackley, discussed how homeschooling helped her family after her husband’s move from a National Guard reservist to active duty moved their family to an Alabama base. 

“Because we were homeschooling this huge transition was made easier on our daughter who was six and a half at the time,” she wrote in a family blog. “She was able to focus on and enjoy learning a new area, home, church, and lifestyle…but not become stressed over a new school, teachers, peers and academics. 

Organizations such as the one where I am a visiting fellow have long championed educational systems that serve the individual needs of children and families, rather than forcing them into a one-size-fits-all structure. For military families, flexibility is not a luxury but a lifeline. Now is the time to expand educational choice by designing systems that adapt just as we do. 

Imagine a nationwide, asynchronous online school tailored to military life, accessible anywhere, anytime, with a curriculum aligned to U.S. academic standards and staffed by certified teachers who understand military children’s unique needs. 

Programs like Time4Learning, Power Homeschool’s Acellus and K12 are already making strides, offering self-paced learning and military discounts. Still, much more can be done.  

The Department of Defense and federal agencies should partner with these and other such innovators to launch dedicated online charter schools for military families, repurposing the Department of Defense Education Activity infrastructure for counseling, testing and guidance. 

Redirecting just 1 percent of the Department of Defense Education Activity’s $2 billion annual budget could fund pilot programs serving thousands of military students, offering affordable, high-quality options regardless of rank or income. 

Such schools wouldn’t just offer academics, they’d offer grounding and continuity amid constant change, giving kids something familiar to hold onto. 

At its core, this effort isn’t just about education. It’s about giving military kids something familiar and steady to hold onto while everything else shifts around them. 

As one expert said, “Maintaining normal routines…gives children a sense of stability during times of transition.” An online charter school built for military families would offer more than just academic content, it would offer grounding, continuity, and a sense of belonging. 

Roughly 1 million school-aged children grow up in U.S. military families, and tens of thousands already homeschool. These families aren’t chasing a dream, they’re responding to a real need. Flexible, high-quality education isn’t optional. It’s essential. 

Secretary Hegseth’s initiative is more than a policy tweak. It offers a chance to reimagine educating military children in a way that honors their sacrifice and supports their resilience. 

Victoria Kiper is a visiting fellow with EdChoice.