The Military Child Education Coalition™ is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, world-wide organization. A model of positive leadership and advocacy, the MCEC™'s work is focused on ensuring quality educational opportunities for all military children affected by mobility, family separation, and transition.

Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) # 10261

Military Child Education Coalition™ Web Site:
www.militarychild.org

State-by-State Education Resource Center Web Site: www.militarychild.org/URC.asp

SchoolQuest™, a powerful MCEC™ web tool that allows parents and children to match needs with their new schools: www.schoolquest.org

For more information and interview opportunities, please contact Katie Kindelan at 202-585-2052 or kkindelan@webershandwick.com.
 
North Carolina Holds First in the Nation Statewide MCEC™ LINN™ Public Engagement
North Carolina recently made history as the first state to hold a statewide Public Engagement Workshop through the MCEC™'s Living in the New Normal:  Supporting Children Through Trauma and Loss™ (LINN™) initiative.  Created by the MCEC™ in 2004, the LINN™ initiative was developed in an effort to support military families who have either lost a loved one or are coping with a life changing injury or illness.  LINN™ gives families and communities the tools they need to cope with the changes and challenges ahead.  Key to the success of this event in North Carolina was the support and participation of the Governor's Office, Adjutant General Major General William Ingram and his wife Lil Ingram with the MCEC™'s efforts.

On August 8, 2007, North Carolina Governor Michael Easley and First Lady Mary Easley welcomed more than 100 representatives of government, business, education, health agencies and faith-based organizations to Raleigh where they participated in a day-long Public Engagement Workshop hosted by the MCEC™.  First Lady Easley spoke to the participants at the seminar, thanking them for their support of and commitment to the thousands of military families and more than 90,000 military-connected children living in North Carolina.  

The seminar was conducted as part of a broader partnership between the MCEC™ and the state of North Carolina in which the MCEC™ has conducted more than 15 training programs throughout the state since 2002.
Annual Conference

The MCEC™ welcomed more than 650 educators and military personnel and a host of dynamic speakers to its 9th Annual Conference July 11-13 in Kansas City, MO. The conference drew the largest number of attendees in conference history with speakers including Leslye Arsht, General B. B. Bell, Lieutenant General Peter Chiarelli, author Bob Greene, Rear Admiral Leendert Hering, Sr., Martha Raddatz of ABC News, Dr. Martin Seligman, and General (Ret.) Eric Shinseki.

A highlight of the conference was the MCEC™'s Tell Me A Story™ session featuring the reunion of Mercedes Wild and Colonel (Ret.) Gail S. Halvorsen, the real-life characters of Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot. Col. Halvorsen was a pilot who started the tradition of dropping candy to German children, including Mercedes, during the Berlin Airlift following World War II.

MCEC™ in the News
  • The MCEC™'s expertise and leadership in helping military families cope with deployment was highlighted in a recent piece on ABC's World News with Charles Gibson. Today, more than 700,000 children in the United States have at least one parent deployed. ABC News spotlighted families' methods for coping with multiple deployments by interviewing MCEC™ Executive Director, Dr. Mary Keller, and friends of the MCEC™, LTC Paul Yingling and his family. The piece was featured on both the ABC News Web site and the nightly World News broadcast.

    Click here to view the ABC News story.

  • The evolution of the MCEC™ from a kitchen table discussion to a world-wide non-profit organization was explored in a recent article in the Kansas City Star.  The Star dispatched a reporter to cover the MCEC™ and the many services it provides to military children during the organization's Annual Conference in Kansas City, MO.  Featured in the article are the MCEC™'s ongoing efforts to assist "suddenly military" children who are the sons and daughters of members of the National Guard or Reserves, as well as Student 2 Student™ members who traveled from far and abroad to speak at the Annual Conference.
  • Also, during the MCEC™'s Annual Conference, MCEC™ experts were the featured guests on "Up to Date with Steve Kraske" on local NPR affiliate KCUR.  Topics included the unique issues facing military-connected children, as well as a live call-in segment.  MCEC™ Executive Director Dr. Mary Keller was joined on the show by Dr. Michael Matthews, psychology instructor at the United States Military Academy at West Point; and Major General Kurt Cichowski, Vice Commander of Air Force Special Operations Command and former Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategy, Plans and Assessment for the Multi-National Force. 

    Click here to listen to the program in its entirety.
  • The July 2007 issues of Better Homes and Gardens featured tips and techniques to help military children and families stay connected with parents serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.  The MCEC™'s Director of Research and Product Development, Stephanie Surles, joined other experts in sharing advice for young children as they stay in touch with deployed parents. A sidebar in this Better Homes & Gardens article refers families to the MCEC™'s brochure on deployment and the Sesame Street Workshop's "Talk, Listen, Connect" DVD.
  • MCEC™ Executive Director was also a recent guest on "Army Wife Talk Radio," an Internet radio talk show that reaches more than 1,000 military spouses.  Dr. Mary Keller joined Marlene Lee, author of "The Hero in My Pocket," in a discussion about children whose lives have been affected by the loss of a member of the U.S. Armed Forces.
MCEC™ Contributes to FOX News
The MCEC™ is proud to join with FOX News as a regular contributor to the "Military Matters" section of the FOXFan Web site. Continuing a partnership begun in April during "Month of the Military Child," the MCEC™ will post regular pieces on the site to address issues faced by all military families, such as deployment, transition and loss. The site will also feature pieces for the civilian population on ways we as Americans can help support military families serving our country here and abroad. MCEC™'s contribution will not only include articles from MCEC™ experts, but also the voices of active duty and retired military members, military spouses, and, of course, the military child. 
Pre-K Now
The MCEC™ is committed to ensuring access to the very best educational opportunities for military children of all ages. That is why the MCEC™ is proud to join forces with Pre-K Now in calling for states to support America's military personnel by providing high-quality pre-kindergarten to their children. The MCEC™ and Pre-K Now recently released a joint report at the MCEC™'s annual conference with the goal of educating policymakers about the need to offer high-quality, voluntary Pre-K to all children of the Armed Forces. The report, "Pre-K for Military Families: Honoring Service, Educating Children," examines the unique challenges faced by today's military-connected children and makes policy recommendations to states.
Edutopia
The MCEC™ is proud to announce that Edutopia magazine has named MCEC™ Executive Director, Dr. Mary M. Keller, as one of its 2007 Daring Dozen. The Daring Dozen, chosen by Edutopia staff from a broad range of candidates across the country, are identified as a "collection of twelve remarkable individuals making a powerful difference in the world of education." Dr. Keller was recognized for her contribution in building the MCEC™ into a world-wide, non-profit organization that "serves the roughly 850,000 K-12 students in military families who must relocate every two to three years." Edutopia magazine is the magazine of The George Lucas Educational Foundation. The 2007 Daring Dozen appear in the June 2007 issue.
MCEC™ Resource

Military families stationed around the world today face high rates of deployment and transition. Deployment is a difficult time for everyone involved – from the adults being deployed and the children they leave behind, to the community of family and friends who must step into new roles. But with the right approach and a plan in place, families and schools can provide the stable, warm environment children need to succeed. The MCEC™ offers resources for military families and educators to ensure military children around the world receive the support and tools they need to succeed.

Click here to view the MCEC™ deployment toolkit.