The School Liaison Officer assists military families with educational issues during transitions and deployments. They provide information on programs and services, make referrals to specialists, and help navigate school systems. However, they are not special education experts and should avoid diagnosing conditions, recommending services, or attending meetings as family counsel. Their role is to support parents as advocates for children with special needs while protecting privacy and following all applicable laws and guidelines.

1. Child and Youth Education Services
ROLE STATEMENT
The School Liaison Officer is responsible for assisting military families in addressing
educational issues especially during times of transition and deployment. The challenges of the
Permanent Change of Station (PCS) can be especially stressful for military families with children
who have special needs. Services offered to exceptional military families are intended to
recognize, support, and promote military parents and/or legal guardians as the first and
primary advocates for the rights and needs of their children with special needs.
The School Liaison Officer SHOULD offer support to exceptional military families in the following
ways:
 provide information about programs and services available on the installation and in the
local community,
 make referrals to the appropriate special education or medical professionals,
 offer assistance in navigating the administrative systems within local education
agencies,
 protect the privacy of students and exceptional military families by properly
guarding medical and educational documents, including but not limited to, psycho-
educational tests results, school transcripts, Individualized Education Plans, 504 Plans,
and medical evaluations, and
 be knowledgeable of the policies and regulations governing the delivery of special
education in the service area.
School Liaison Officers are not and should not act as special education advisors. Acting only as
facilitators, the School Liaison Officer should AVOID the following:
 presenting him- or herself as a special education subject matter expert,
 attempting to ‘diagnose’ medical exceptionalities,
 recommending educational intervention services,
 violating the privacy of individuals and/or families by carelessly handling medical or
educational documents and information (these documents must be safeguarded in
accordance with Navy Policy and FERPA and HIPPA guidelines),
 offering to attend special education or medical meetings as counsel for the family, and
 making recommendations which directly or indirectly impact the quality of life decisions to
be only by parents and/or legal guardians.
The legal exposure for the individual School Liaison Officer and the Child and Youth Education
Services program is heightened when working with programs dictated by federal law. For that
reason, EXTREME care and the highest levels of professional discretion must be exercised at all
times when dealing with exceptional military families.
By signing below, the School Liaison Officer agrees to comply with these guidelines and
only those which serve to equip parents and/or legal guardians in their role as advocates
for the exceptional military family member.
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Signature Date