Congressman Pat Harrigan Introduces COMPASS Act to Protect Military Homeschool Families

Contact: Lexi Kranich (814) 380-4408

WASHINGTON, D.C.-Today, Congressman Pat Harrigan (NC-10) introduced the Continuity of Military Parents' Academic Schooling and State Standards (COMPASS) Act, legislation to protect military homeschool families from conflicting state homeschooling laws when military orders require them to move across state lines. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) is leading companion legislation in the Senate.

"Military families live with enough uncertainty. Every permanent change of station brings a new set of challenges, and a child's education should not be one of them. My COMPASS Act ensures military homeschooling families can maintain educational continuity when duty takes them across state lines while reducing the administrative burdens that come with frequent relocations. Strong military families are essential to military readiness, and parents serving this country should not be penalized simply because the military asked them to move," said Congressman Harrigan.

"Military families homeschool their children at roughly twice the rate of civilian families. Conflicting state homeschooling laws can undermine military readiness, family resilience, and retention by forcing servicemembers and their spouses to navigate different requirements each time the Department of Defense relocates them. This bill will provide military homeschool families with the stability and flexibility they deserve. I'm proud to introduce it and urge my colleagues to move swiftly to pass this legislation," said Senator Ted Cruz.

The legislation has earned support from military family, homeschooling, and military child advocacy organizations:

"HSLDA is pleased to support this critical legislation to support our service members and their families. Military families have long enjoyed the benefits that homeschooling offers, particularly given their high rate of moves. This bill will support military families by providing educational stability during moves between states while removing one more source of stress and paperwork," said Home School Legal Defense Association President James R. Mason, Esq., Lt. Cdr., U.S. Navy (Ret.).

"Every permanent change of station brings disruption for military children. The COMPASS Act recognizes that educational continuity is not a luxury for these children, it is a need. Families who are lawfully homeschooling under one state's rules should not face an entirely different set of requirements simply because military orders move them somewhere new, and we are proud to support this effort," said Military Child Education Coalition President and CEO Mary Bier.

"Military homeschool families often navigate multiple moves throughout a child's education, creating challenges as they transition between different state homeschool laws and requirements. The COMPASS Act offers a practical solution that reduces unnecessary administrative burdens, promotes educational continuity, and recognizes the unique realities of military service while preserving parental choice," said Military Homeschoolers Association Founder and Executive Director Natalie Mack, M.Ed.

Military families relocate every 2.5 years on average, and military children often change schools six to nine times throughout their academic careers. Approximately 12 percent of active-duty military families homeschool, yet crossing a state line can expose those families to an entirely different set of homeschooling requirements, reporting obligations, and compulsory education laws. The COMPASS Act extends existing Servicemembers Civil Relief Act protections to help ensure military families are not penalized simply because military service requires them to move.

Congressman Harrigan will continue working to support military families, reduce unnecessary burdens on servicemembers, and ensure federal law reflects the realities of military life.