001All right. Good afternoon. Welcome to our quarter 2 state advisory council on educational opportunity for military children meeting. It is February 2nd uh 2026. I appreciate folks flexibility in the rescheduling what is usually a January meeting. Um but am uh happy we were able to identify an alternative date. Um we've still got some folks um logging in, but I'll go ahead and move us on to our agenda. Uh today we'll start uh with some standing our standing call to order and roll call. Um we have added we'll be approving our meeting minutes. And so uh want to remind council members um that uh we'll ask you to review those in advance so you're prepared to make to approve those minutes as a part of the meeting. Um we'll also be talking about having a shared
002space moving forward. So those documents are a little more easy to access between meetings versus looking for emails. So uh we'll talk about that a little bit later. Public comments are standing part of our agenda. Um we'll have council council membership updates. We do have an action item that we're posted for today um which is to uh reconsider a recent amendment to the operating procedures um related to council membership. Um we're going to take our items a little bit out of order today. Next on the list is a 2026 council priorities discussion. I'm actually going to move the council member and staff reports up. Um we have some updates um from Dr. Lei um that I think um can help to kind of in inform and focus our conversation around co council priorities. So we'll
003we'll be taking those out of order. Um we'll talk about some upcoming events uh our next uh advisory council meeting um and then we'll adjourn. Uh before we get started or get too far into our agenda, we'll do our roll call. Uh you can respond by present or here to indicate that you are in attendance. If you are attending as a proxy um for a council member, um please um identify yourself um when you hear your members uh name called. Um we'll start with Dr. John Craft. Good afternoon. Present. Great. >> Jessica Garza. Brenda Howard. Brenda, I did not hear you, but I do see you. >> Okay, present. Sorry about that. >> Record mark record is present. Thank you. Uh, Captain Bo Huffsettler, >> Colonel Jup >> present. Thank you. >> Dr. Dr. Annlay
004>> present. >> Nancy P. Patterson. Dr. Bernie Roer. The records show that I, Jessica Snider, am in attendance. Simone Hendris >> present. >> Madison Yandel. Technical Sergeant Nolan Zapeda. And then we have our our vacancies listed. I forgot. I meant to um mention I was going to ask folks to um to go on screen um for the roll call. Uh we'll try again next time. Um but I do ask during we have a couple of discussion items during those discussions. Be helpful. Um one to have folks um uh participate in those discussions um and to come off off camera when they do so. Um as we move forward, the next item on the agenda is approval of the previous meeting minutes. So again, this is a new a relatively new item um for us or
005um minutes are not new, but the approval of the minutes um is an addition to our agenda. They were attached to council members invitations. Um the way this will work is one asking members to review those meeting minutes prior to the next meeting. And then as the agenda item, we'll need an individual um to make a motion, which can be as simple as I move that we approve um the October meeting minutes. We'll need a second. Um and then we can do votes a couple of different ways, but I'll probably just ask if we have any objections. Give a moment for anyone to object. Um if there are no objections, then the minutes will will be approved. Um, and so, um, I probably maybe I'll I'll draft that up for a slide in the future
006since it's the first time, but I'll just repeat. It's a motion to approve the October meeting minutes and then we'll ask for a second. So, do I have anyone who can make that first motion? >> I make the motion. Oh, go ahead. >> No, no, Brenda, go ahead. I'll I'll second it. >> Perfect. I make the motion that we approve the minutes from our October 27th meeting with no changes. I have a second. Any objections? The minutes are approved. Thank you. Um and just as a side note, I mentioned at the top of the meeting um with the addition of this um uh agenda item, we're also going to add a secure workspace where you can better access meeting documents between meetings. It'll also help folks um uh uh share other other resources pertinent to
007council business. Um and so we'll talk about that a little bit uh later in our agenda. The next item is uh another standing item as an open meetings. Uh we also have to provide the opportunity for members of the public to to sign up to provide comment or to present um really to provide testimony before the advisory committee. We did not receive we put that out with the call in the open meeting notice. Um, we did not receive any requests, so we'll move on. Council membership updates. This is my item. So, we have two new council members. Um, we, uh, uh, technical sergeant Nolan Zapeda has not had an opportunity to join us yet. Um, I will have a conversation with him between now and our next meeting, but we are joined by Colonel Peter
008J, who is our uh, designate um, for the US Air Force. And so I'm going to turn things over to him to introduce himself and tell you a little bit about him. >> Right. Hello everyone and happy Groundhog's Day. Um I am Colonel Peter J, United States Air Force. I am currently the commander of the 47th Mission Support Group at Laughlin Air Force Base, Del Rio, Texas. And of course, um, our base does have a local school on on post, um, as part of the, uh, San Felipe Del Rio CISD. Right. So, I'm still getting used to the, uh, the acronyms around here. I have been in the seat since July, late July of last year, so just about six, seven months. And, uh, I have been in the Air Force now going on 23
009years. And with those um many assignments that come with that, I have a you know distinct opportunity to be a part of this and I'm very very grateful to be a part of it. I do have two school age kids. I have a freshman in high school as well as a nine-year-old who was in the third grade. And you know, I was listening through the last meeting and I it sounds like, you know, the average moves that a military child has, I was hearing numbers from like seven, six to eight or seven to nine u moves in the average um military career. So, it got me thinking um kind of where my kids are at. So, my oldest Elijah, he's 14. He has gone to school in six different locations and he is on his
010ninth school. um across those um assignments. And then my youngest who's nine um Nathaniel, he's now on his second school in two locations. And so um of those schools, I have been stationed overseas four times. And three out of those four assignments, um I had at least one of those kids in a DODIA school. So um happy to be a part of the team and uh really appreciate the welcome. And uh that's it. Oh, and I will say I'm a civil engineer by trade. That's um what I grew up in the Air Force doing. Um, and of course my portfolio today covers a lot more than just that here on Laughlin. So, thanks again. >> Thank you. And if I didn't say so initially, um, welcome. Um, you are going to bring a really unique
011perspective both as as a service member, as a as a as leadership, as well as as a parent. Um, and so I think you're uniquely qualified um uh for for for the council. Um I would like to um propose moving forward um in the future um as we have I'm finding as as we as we fill a position and we'll talk about in a moment. It seems there's another position or vacancy that that opens. Um and that's that's been that's one of our priorities or one of my personal priorities is is addressing the vacancies that we have on the council. But because it is a is a rotating there will always be a certain uh amount of a revolving door um in terms of terms both and also retirements um which we'll talk about in
012a bit. Um I thought it might be helpful if we created a um a set of bios for each uh council member so that we don't have to do what I'm about to ask folks to do every time. We have kind of a small group today and so I thought it would be nice to pause um and and introduce ourselves to Colonel J. Um but moving forward I think if we can have um kind of a biog a short bio for each of our members. That's something that as part of onboarding we could provide to new members um so that they have um they can um review that in advance and and have a sense of membership um so we're not reintroducing and introducing ourselves each meeting since we do have um term positions and
013and and new members are can be fairly common. Um, but since we're a small group today, I'm going to ask folks to go ahead and um I'll I'll do uh I can do roll call and just give a brief introduction of themsel and the work um where they're coming from, what sector they're representing. Um and and then we'll we'll move on and and talk some about those vacancies that I miss mentioned. I'm just going to go in the order of what I can see on my screen. Um Dr. Lei, if you wouldn't mind introducing yourself. >> Sure. Uh my name is Dr. Anne Lei. I represent the lead of the military connected student programs here at the Texas Education Agency. So, we work handinhand with the council members to bring program updates on how we
014are supporting school districts, our ESC regional uh military champion, school liaison officers and um the families here. Um and so, um we're just working a lot with the field and so just excited about this uh this opportunity to partner with the council members. Thank you, Brenda. >> Uh, yes, Dr. Chairman Brad Buckley appointed me as the House Representative designignate, and he did so because I've been working for the past six years on policy education. I have a I was a military brat. I was active duty military. I have a son who attended schools as a military child. And so, I've seen the gamut of all of it. and um enjoy policy education. So that's my background and what I bring. >> You Dr. Craft. >> Good afternoon. U John Craft. Um had the opportunity to
015uh serve as the superintendent in Colleen. I was in Colleen for uh right at 11 years and you're probably very familiar uh with Colleen, Texas and the military activity there. And then also um um am on my third year here in North Side ISD. So have had the opportunity to really work with uh all of the bases uh installations uh here as we serve a rather large uh student population uh here as well. So um had the like I say opportunity to begin uh this committee assignment in Colleen and um been fortunate enough to be able to serve uh here in North Side um and have really learned a lot about what it means to support military families and students. So welcome. >> Thank you Dr. >> Simone. >> Yes. Good afternoon. Uh my name
016is Simone Hendris. I am one of uh the school leazison officers on Ford Bliss. Uh we have more than one working with the Texas slows uh um uh sharing that uh perspective here on the council. I've been with the school leazison office for which is going on 14 years. Uh so um that's my background was a teacher before and raised two children in the military. >> Thank you. Um, uh, myself, Jessica Snyder. I realized I did not rename myself. I am showing a Zoom webinar, so I'll see if I can multitask and get that taken care of here relatively quickly. Um, I am the senior division director at TEA for the curriculum standards and student support division. And so, um, the, uh, and also serve as the the TES Texas designate for the commissioner, uh,
017of for the state for the MC 3 for the Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission. Um, in part that that uh appointment kind of come comes with the job because we we support the curriculum standards and the graduation requirements and the award and and policy and rules related to the award of credit which are often one of the the um the areas where we see the obstacles and challenges that some of our students face. Um there are a number of challenges but particularly when we're looking at on-time graduation um probably the highest percentage of the of the case studies and the inquiries we receive are are related to award of credit and graduation. Um those are the things that that are escalated to to our review because it is also one of the primary areas that
018the compact address. There's a lot of other areas that the compact does does um not explicitly address um but are still are our topics and conversation the other impacts not just about credit and graduation the other impacts of our students um so much of the work that Dr. Lay's um group addresses um that we can also um um surface and and um include in our discussions as a as a council. Um that's a little bit about us. I promise that will be the last time for a bit before I ask folks, but that's going to require a little bit of homework on your part. So, we will be following up with kind of a short template um where we can get a brief bio um that we can have available to members um as we
019have new membership um that that joins us in the future. Which brings me to our current membership. Um uh Captain Hubetler let me know he was not would not be able to uh to attend today. I was expecting um um someone in in his place. Um, just as a reminder, um, uh, if you're not able to attend a meeting, you are always, um, welcome to identify a proxy. I do ask that you let me know if that individual has voting rights, if we have action items, um, and who that individual is so I know to expect them and then you can just share your your panelist link with them. Um, but moving to um, our first vacancy and this is going to come up for discussion. Um, we have have filled an exeicio position that
020was recently added as council membership for a member of a representative from the reserves of the armed forces and we added a position or I should say the amendment is unclear. So we uh we added a representative from the Texas National Guard uh a representative from the Texas National Guard. Um the question is is that an and or so we'll bring that up in a moment. So that may or may not be a vacancy depending on the outcome of today's discussion on our operating procedures. Um moving down um Brenda identified herself. She is the designate from the chair of the House of Representatives committee on public education. We are also um uh working with the uh the chair of the Senate committee on education or at least that uh the chair's office to identify a
021designate um from from the Senate. And so um working on on on filling that position. That's when again we work directly with the legislature. I have another color uh coding here. Dr. Bernie Roer um has his term has has ended. His position is um the superintendent representative of a military school district, which is different from Dr. Craft, which is we just have a superintendent representative. Um so he serves that position. Um we do look for um ISDs that have a probably a relatively high number of military connected students, but that's which Northside ISD is. That's different than a military school district, which is not just housed um but is actually a part of that installation. um and kind of I guess for lack of a better term run by um that installation. We only have
022three um military what would meet the definition of a military school district. So we anticipate that might be kind of a rolling um term between those three districts. Um Dr. Roer has already um kind of helping us to reach out um to the superintendent from those two districts. And so we will um hopefully have um u that individual identified by by our next uh by our next meeting. Um Nancy Patterson is uh has just retired and so um wasn't sure if this would be her last meeting. I think she has already officially retired and so uh we'll be we will start the process of identifying a district administrative representative. Um that can be any administrator, not a superintendent. Um Nancy represented Colleen um ISD um and alma moater of Dr. Crafts. Um and so that
023is a position that we'll we'll um uh begin the process of identifying an administrator. Um either um we can um look in in again the the usual suspects like Colleen ISD, but I also want to bring up and we'll talk about this later in the the council priorities. We've talked about reaching out to some ISDs um or improving our connections with ISTDs that have lower enrollment of military connected students, which sometimes means there's less information and and support systems for those students. Um so we can also talk about looking um outside of um the the obvious choices like like Colleen. And then the next um vacancy we have is the parent representative. There's a there's probably a fair amount of overlap sometimes between some of these positions. We can have a counselor who's a parent
024um who is a reservist um uh but only only what we you can only serve in one capacity. So while we probably have a number of parents on the council um the parent representative position is open. I had asked in the last meeting about some help um if if there were individuals um that any um members might um want to offline um discuss or or recommend. Um and I didn't I didn't hear from anyone. Um so I'm not sure that the open like the open call is is is the best option. So, I thought I might just stop for a moment before we we move forward um and talk about as for a moment when we have uh a vacancy such as the parent representative um if there are any suggestions or recommendations about where
025I should go from here in identifying those individuals. I'm asking about your your networks um your um recommendations for identifying individuals who might serve in one or all of these capacities with the exception of the designate from the Senate office. That one we we'll go to the ledge for that. >> Just a quick question. Do you need a a parent of students currently enrolled or or in school or can it be a parent a former parent that has maybe a a graduate? >> Yeah, >> the all of the operating procedure says and by the way some of the some of the positions are actually required in the statute that establishes this council and some were TEA designates. It's the statute identifies a parent doesn't say. And so I think I might put the question back
026to you of of of what you think. Do you you know I think it might actually I will answer. I think it depends. Um if you've got an individual who no longer has kids in school but who has um knows the territory um has uh and you think would would be engaged and invested. I think that could be a good candidate. So my thoughts are that if you have a parent representative that has active duty, they're active duty now, that that position would rotate rather quickly versus someone who, as um Dr. Craft mentioned, has had children in school, but maybe they've retired. We have obviously next to Fort Hood we have Colleen Harker Heights. So we could pull from that area for sure. >> Yeah. And Brenda, you probably know I I was just thinking
027uh Todd Fox. Um both his students uh have graduated, but I think he would be an excellent candidate. Um retired colonel, former garrison commander uh at Fort Hood. um if he'd be willing I'd like I say >> he's a >> name that comes to mind >> and >> no that's a great name and he is a bit busy but that is a great name and chairman Buckley could or you could reach out >> sure >> and I think for the purposes of our open meeting um if you want to um frame IND individuals and their experience but without um not identifying those individuals we can you with me. But I I appreciate some of the specificity because I think it helps because when I have the open call, I I don't I think it's harder
028to think of people. So, I really appreciate you bouncing ideas off of each other, but let's try to refrain from using individuals names for open for the purpose of our open meeting. Colonel J, did I see you coming off mute? >> Uh, yeah. I think um for the Air Force side, it wouldn't be too hard to at least get a call out to all the installations in Texas to see if anyone is interested in doing it. Um, but obviously what would help is if we have a quick one pager that shows what are the expectations of this position for the parent representative, what are the qualities and backgrounds that we're looking for? Um, that would that would definitely help, right? Instead of just asking the question, hey, who wants to be a parent representative for
029the um, you know, NIC3? Um, at least getting a little bit of information out there that we could all agree upon as what we're looking for from parent rep. Um and then also I would say um you know a dependent spouse would probably have some really good insight on on what it you know what it takes. I think a lot of times the military members you know myself included were kind of rem sometimes removed right um um from what what the parent has to deal with that that's that's at home with the kid a lot of times. So that's nothing against you know spouses you know that have to deal with that. That's just we have a different perspective on things I think as a military member. That's just coming from personal personal experience. >>
030Um really like one of the things that I heard was a one-pager which I think could be useful in identifying for all three of the vacancies that we have but also a part of onboarding for individuals as they join of what to expect. Um, and so I think that is something that staff can can pull together um, and share through through this workspace that I've mentioned and make available to council members who might want to use to approach anyone if you wanted to, you know, one-on-one have the conversation. We do, we would probably, just as an FYI, when we have opened positions and had names referred to us, staff have reached out to the individuals and with more information and requested a CV. when we do when we are fortunate enough to have more than
031one individual interested um we request that that CV and then in in the past the council has um uh has indicated they're comfortable with with TEA making the final decision with that information. We're always trying to look geographically too to see if something makes more sense to have greater and broader representation. Um, but love the idea of having the one pager. This the other thing you said, Colonel Ju, is um what we're looking for and was wondering if as a new member, it's not really fair to put you on the spot, but you're welcome to answer this question. Um, and this might help me in the creation of that one pager, but what do we think um I heard a couple of things, but what as a council would be some of the experience or
032expertise that you might be looking for for a for a parent representative? um to contribute. >> Yeah, I think I think the second part of my comment was more based on the fact that if you look at what's on the screen right now, we already have a heavy military representation. We have a lot of educators already, people who have been in school, you know, in the school industry for a while. And so having a parent rep that is, you know, kind of overlaps with any of those to me might actually kind of um, you know, water down what that position could potentially provide. Right? We're going to have same perspectives, a lot of the same ideas coming through because we have shared experiences as military members and or educators, right? I'd like to get perspective
033of somebody completely outside of the lane that is a parent of a student that may have nothing to do with the education enterprise and get their take on things purely as a parent of a military dependent child, you know, student. And I think um that could potentially help, right? to to deliberately seek somebody who doesn't have that experience in, you know, being a counselor or an educator or, you know, um, anybody in the school system over >> a true a true parent. You're all true parents, but someone who is truly feeling that as as the parental who's experiencing um, firsthand um, not necessarily through the lens of of of educator or military um, just the parent of a military connected child, right? Other thoughts? So we have we have an interesting we have an interested
034the benefit of including actual names is we have the benefit of of some some real real time um volunteerism. So we will definitely follow follow up. Um that is the benefit of an open meeting. Um any other though um from other council members of of experience or expertise that you think would be helpful to bring to the table as a parent representative? And I just add I think uh you know along the same lines as the colonel just said a parent so that uh they can share the experience of how they used the uh um avenues and resources that we as school leaison officers and the school and the council uh uh can provide and what their experience is uh how they solve their problems or issues or transitional issues. I think that uh uh
035would be very beneficial. Were they aware of what resources are out there and if so uh uh how were they using them? That is additional support for bringing in a p a parent with a unique perspective of a parent who's not necessarily affiliated with one of the other two kind of entities that we represent an educational system and and the military sector. any other thoughts or ideas about um specific to the parent representative? I appreciate the conversation. Um I do want to go back circle back to um the district administrator representative um again our previous representative um is from a a a very military connected school district Colleen uh ISD um and um um would would like to hear your thoughts about um if we should continue to explore in school districts that um are
036closely connected um to the installations that have a high number of military connected students enrolled. Um, or if this might be one of the areas or opportunities to work with some of the districts that are are are less that have lower volumes but of of numbers. Um, and I'll just leave it at that. Or should we look outside of of some of the um what we traditionally think where we might traditionally go. I I agree, Jessica, that that's a great thought that maybe we want a school that has fewer military students. Um, but I do agree that we should um well, I guess everyone here has military installation near them so their voices are heard. was just thinking about the fact that Nancy Patterson is from our area and has Fort Hood and intimately knows
037on a firsthand basis the transfer in of students and what those hardships are and and that type of thing in any of our ISTDs in our area would also bring that um knowledge level or experience level to the situation. And so I'm not too sure if if having an administrator who doesn't deal with that what quite maybe the if there what benefit that would be. I do see sometimes you want to think outside of the box. Um but I do I'm leaning towards another installation administrator who has to deal with it on a daily basis. Other conversation or recommendations for the district administrator position, right? Well, we will um this is we just learned of NY's retirement, so we haven't really started planning um for that identification and recruitment process. Um, but we'll either bring
038updates or more questions to you at your next meeting or or potentially um a new a new representative. But the parent representative we've been working on for a while. I will mention um I think as we look at and already have um some um have some some interested parties. Um we have also I mentioned been working directly with um the the the office of the Senate Committee on Education. Um and um we'll be helping them to identify some some potential candidates. And so um we may have if if individuals who are are are interested in this opportunity and serve surveying to to please reach out either to a council member or to Dr. Lei will have some contact information at at TEA um that I can't get to quickly here on my slides. Um but
039there's a few ways um uh to to let us know that this is an opportunity that you would be interested in. So, thank you for the conversation. With that, um, I'm going to move to what I think will be, uh, should be a a relatively quick action item related to the operating procedures, also related to council membership. Um, we have I'm going to try to do this seamlessly of pulling up the operating procedures into There we go. not seamlessly, but I have a little finicky shared screens here. There we go. Um, this is just an excerpt of your operating procedures, the section um 2.1 of membership. Uh, you'll notice in B like boy, we have a non voting we have one non- voting exeicio um uh section of of the membership rules or procedures. We
040identified um that the council shall include a representative from the Texas National Guard and then in Romanette number two there which is what we call lowercase Roman numerals here uh a representative from the reserve component of a military branch. What we did not do um which was my oversight is include an and or or now I believe it was the intent of of the group um for that to be an and um but because it wasn't in the the the procedure that I had in front of folks and they were voting on um I'm bringing it back to the council because we'd also discussed is this truly two positions that we wish to fill or is it or does the council prefer to have a single exeicio um position that could be filled by one
041or or or the other. Um I think um a pros might be that that if if it's one or the other then we have have met in that position then we do not have a vacancy in this area. If it's an and we would identify that second position. I think maybe the things to think about are, you know, is there something unique or different from one or the other um that would add to um would add additional value or perspective um to the council. Um I'll take just a step back um and uh for for newer members. Um this idea was initially brought by the former commissioner uh my predecessor Shelley Ramos um who had learned um through the the national meetings for the military interstate compact and talking with other states that that many
042states do have an exeicio representative um from the National Guard or from the reserve component and and in certain circumstances um the compact does apply to these families if they meet the the eligibility ibility criteria. Um, and so given that, and I I think when I say many, it is not most. I think it's 17 of the of the states had at least one. I don't know um how many have both or um or only one. Um the the surveyor poll didn't have that level of detail. Um but that's how the commit the the this council the Texas council moved forward with the addition of of this position. So the question before you today is whether or not um this is an and or an or. And so I'll open for discussion um and then
043we'll have a vote. Jessica, I have a quick question before we start discussion. Is a reservist in fact a Texas is a Texas National Guard soldier actually a reservist? Does anyone know that answer? >> Oh, it's a little different. Um, >> thank you. Good. >> I was going to say I I recall the Navy captain at the last meeting saying he didn't think there was a need to have both. um which I tend to agree, but to your question, um on the reserve side, they could be non- Texas residents that are part of the a Texas reserve unit. However, on the flip side, if you're on the Texas Texas Texas National Guard side, you are definitely a Texas resident. So, there's a little nuance difference there. Um and that's where I would I would say
044that's that's one of the biggest differences that you would see between the two. But in terms of title 32, title 10, if you know what that that's referencing, um, guard and reserve are all title 32 until they're activated on the title 10 orders. >> Okay, thank you. That that clarifies it for me that there is maybe a little overlap. So, I'm in favor of an or even if the original intent was an and because of the possible duplication. Those are just my thoughts. >> Um, I agree. I would say or is probably sufficient, although ideal to have one of each. But I would just say if we are in that one or the other situation that that individual understands that they need to represent both reserve and guard and not just from the lens of
045whichever component they're in. Um, if I might add, um, originally, um, since on our program side with PES coding and identifying military student identifiers, we do separate them, um, with National Guard and reserve components as two separate entities, but because this is a nonvoting um, position, I would say or would be sufficient. >> Agreed. And I guess I'll also add there could be Texas state residents reservists who are actually part of reserve units outside of Texas. So it goes both ways for the reserves. Yeah. though I think I mean I'm hearing that there could be you know some some benefit to to having an an and but no objections to to an to an or um might be where we're a little on the fence. I'll go ahead and put even though it's it's it's
046the less less efficient of the two I can put out there. The council could also leave it as and and potentially one position is is open at any time we might be able to to fill. we might not prioritize um filling if we had a vacancy of between the two, prioritize other vacancies in front of them and then if we're able to fill the second position, we could do that as well. Um I personally like the neatness of of not having languishing vacancies at the same time. So that might be an argument for for the ORE. Um but I think given the discussion while call first any No, I think everyone has just about everyone has has chimed in. Um Dr. craft. Feel free to chime in if you would like to. Um, but I'll
047just make a call if anyone would like to make a motion for either the >> I'll make the motion for the language to include or >> I'll need a second. >> I will second. >> Thank you, Dr. Lei. Any objections to the addition of or? Hearing none. The motion carries. All right. Um then we will reach out to our current um representative um technical sergeant sepa. Um I we've had a little bit of a of a communication um laps but are getting u making sure we have the right contact information and that he has the the panel links um everything that he needs to to join in future meetings. So, I appreciate everyone taking up that cleanup housing uh housekeeping item in our operating procedures. As I mentioned, um we are actually going to skip
048our council priorities um and move to our council member and staff report. So, I'm going to be turning things over to Dr. Lelay in just a moment. Um, want to remind council members that this is also an opportunity that always presents itself for you to bring up um any um any updates um um issues, questions or concerns in in your areas that you would like to discuss. We can't take action on items, but it's a good opportunity also to to let staff know about things that you might be interested in addressing in a future meeting. You also have opportunities to review the agenda and suggest things between meetings, but um just a good opportunity to have conversations if there's something if there's something on on your mind. It can be very informal. You're also welcome
049to submit powerpoints or presentations if you have a more structured or formal update you would like to provide. Um it's also just a good opportunity to let us know, like I said, good good things that are happening um in your neck of the woods. So, I want to encourage folks if not prepared today to provide an update to be thinking about that in advance of future meetings because it really is not just a staff update. Um, though we always have things that we're eager to share. So, with that, I will turn things over uh to to Dr. Le. >> All right. Thank you so much. >> Okay. So, our uh military connected student programs um is housed in the highly mobile and atrisisk student programs unit within Texas Education Agency. So on the next slide
050um you'll see um that uh today's uh status update we want to focus on three highlighted areas. The first one is completed professional development and capacity building um events that we've held. Um the second one is reminders about upcoming opportunities um and these are open to educators to families to uh community uh members. And then lastly, um what we have highlighting some resources to support both military and educational stakeholders. And each of these updates um do align to the council's priorities. So on the next slide, the first thing that I wanted to share is that through our grant work with our military child education coalition or MSE, our purple star campus support PLC or professional learning community series is in full swing. We have held four um PLC's um so far and all four is
051on our HMI webinar web page um so anybody who weren't able to attend can access it um the recording and also a copy of the presentation and then our last PLC session um is going to be scheduled for February 19th and these are not just about purple star campus designation which is an initiative within our uh military connected program. Um it serves as a framework for schools uh and educators to support military connected students across Texas. So don't be um uh swayed one way when you see purple star. It is not just about purple star. It is the framework and how to best support our military connected students. On the next slide, similarly, we've had a great turnout with our military professional developments. In the fall, we held our supporting military children through school transitions,
052collegebound financial aid and college preparation support for military families. And then we also uh held our we serve two national guard and reserve children PD. What we do have upcoming is a uh agency purple star interest meeting which is March 4th. And then our last PD is military service ins supporting children of veterans on March 25th. Um, our next slide, uh, we want to highlight that we've held our very first statewide inaugural Texas Military Connected Student Support Summit just last week, um, at Region 20 Education Service Center, which is in San Antonio. This was a free full day event brought um, bringing together educators, administrators, and partners from across Texas to share best practices, exploring new strategies, and strengthening supports for our military connected students. And um Colleen had a very large uh attendance record.
053We had about 30. They chartered a bus and bust themselves to our summit. It was amazing. Got to meet so many passionate um educators out there. Um so it was a great event. And then on our next slide, it breaks down the um sessions that we've held. So serving military connected students started as a national um PD session um presented by our um military coalition group and then it moved into our uh keynote speaker which is Miss uh Lori Fipps. She is the chief of the department air force a school liaison program. And then uh Lindsay Dabau was supposed to attend um and present in person but she had some traveling um issues because of the weather. So we did zoom her in and she was able to present uh on the MC3 compact and
054we had a lot of scenarios in which she walked us through um whether we got the right compact uh chapters and just learning through all that. And then our last session was our state agency and our uh military champions at the education service center partnering together to bring um Texas school uh military supports u so that our uh educators would be able to um learn best practices and understand where the resources are to better support um the military connected students. And with that, on our next slide, um I will drop the link to this one into the chat um after this, but it is our statewide military student identifier data report. So, our agency um I developed this report to highlight um the number of military connected students and this will show you a four-year
055trend on um the growth of our military connected students based on also our PES coding which is active duty US military, national guard, reserve um those in prek, those uh who are veterans and those who have uh fallen in the line of duty. Um, so it breaks that down, but also on the second page, um, it also breaks it down by the 20 education service centers, and you can see where most of our military connected students are. Some are near in, uh, military installations. Some are not. So, it's very important for us to be able to bring the resources and the awareness to, um, all of our districts and all of our education service centers so that these supports is aligned across Texas. Um on the next slide, this uh resource here was presented at
056the summit. This is a brand new resource for our schools and our education service centers to understand the additional resource that is available for schools and community partners and it is at the education service center. So we have voluntarily designated military champions and um this helps to guide uh individuals to understand how they can serve as a support system for schools for families for the installation. Um but not only that they can help to advocate for um those services and support. And then lastly um along with uh MSE tea will be celebrating April month of military child on April 10th. We are letting the schools choose um which day works for them because it does um occur around star testing time and so um we allow that flexibility. But what's uh very exciting is we
057are about to unleash a month of military child toolkit similarly for what you see on MSC and MC 3. But this is uh Texas Education AY's first toolkit and um it's going to be called Braveheart Bright Futures Texas month of Military Child toolkit and it will be a collection of resources that can help to celebrate military connected uh children. Um there'll be some social media um promotions and um just a lot of very good uh templates that schools can use. And lastly, I think there's one more. Um there is a yes uh QR code for our military web page. It is a resource hub for all of our stakeholders and uh we keep it keep it updated with uh recent resources that are rolled out and also any available PDS that are coming up. >>
058Thank you. And I will drop the link to the data report into the chat. >> This is um there are a few reasons why I wanted um Dr. Lei uh to present before we talk about um priorities. I feel like some of these activities lend themselves very well and as she mentioned are aligned to priorities that the council has membered. So if there's anything that we want to um uh ride on the coattails of or connect to or promote um there are opportunities to to do that. Um also think it's helpful to go into that conversation knowing that there is quite a bit of of support and resource development um training opportunities that are promoted through the agency. um the council is separate and apart from the agency um but um but we we support
059the council and your your initiatives and so um understanding um having awareness about what Dr. Lelay is working on and what her team is is working on again is is important to know that there are things that are happening um and just how we where there are opportunities again for us to support and or pro promote that work. um somewhat related to resources. Um I keep mentioning and I will uh uh won't share a link but I'll I'll bring up again in um in this uh well I guess in in my report um that we're creating a workspace for council members and I think some of these things not only we have a place to go where you can get the last presentation the meeting minutes um but I'll work with Dr. later to see
060if there's any particular resources that we might want to pull into that space at a minimum links like this one to um the highly mobile at risk uh units web pages where these resources can be found so that you you hear about them you see them sounds great but you know where how to access them um between meetings um so this QR code will be saved into that folder you'll have access there if you're not able to grab it um but I think we can also provide some direct links to some those um those resources and web pages that she just mentioned. Um any questions or comments um for for Dr. Lei? >> That's wonderful. Tell her thank you. Thank you for all your hard work. >> Thank you for keeping us us updated. Um
061a quick I have a quick update. Um did not get to this in the October meeting. I said I I overplanned a little bit um in trying to do a training and then some other updates. Um so we'll be mindful of that in the future, but wanted to give an update from the military interstate compact children's commission MC 3 annual business meeting that was conducted back in October. Um there were a couple of action items. So the annual business meeting is when the commissioner from each state we come together um review um any revisions or updates to the rules. budget is uh the budget committee presents um and um just other other uh compact business is conducted. Um there was um an amendment to the rules for the dues formula. um a couple of mess
062I think it was in the July advisory council meeting um Greg Lynch who is the commissioner from Washington presented to the council and talked about um the proposed new uh due structure each state pays dues to participate and those dues are based on the number of students and so believe it or not Texas is not the highest paying member um that's Virginia but we are our our number our number two um I'll show you the amendment that was that was passed um and um impact to the to the budget. Um there was also a compliance fee assessment. We will be uh which passed um we will states that do not are not in compliant with um what is outlined in the compact agreement will be assessed. It's a rather small fee. I apologize that I
063I don't remember what it is, but we have a couple of of uh requirements to maintain our membership in the compact, which include providing an annual report, paying our dues, um and um that that that's about that's about it. And then attendance um of course we can't always attend the annual business meeting, but um that we either attend or um at least RSVP. And so there will be a small compliance fee for for states that are are late or don't um meet um those those requirements. Elections were held. There's a new um national um uh chair. Um and then we also had an applicant, an exopicio applicant. Um there are a couple of professional um not professional but um nonprofit organizations that support military connected students. Um the education commission of the states is is
064applying for for membership as an as an additional organization. I think you would recognize the the current organ exeicio organizations blue star families um misa mc um and um the education commission of the states is is applying for membership as well. This is the um the the dues formula. Um what Greg Lint presented to the council was that the the deuce formula and structure has not changed had not changed in about 20 years and was set at a dollar per student. Um there are a lot of calculations that if you wish to know more he actually presented at that meeting you could go back and watch the July meeting but the outcome of it all in their projected 5year plans is that we'd need an increase um to $1.78 per child to keep up um
065with um commission initiatives and inflation. Um the rule did pass um uh and so our I will um share in a future meeting what that adjustment will look like u for Texas moving forward. It is funded by the Texas State Legislature. That council doesn't need to um to approve um that that budget or or formula, but just wanted to keep you apprised of military interstate compact um business. And this is um the secure workspace that I keep um alluding to. It's called TEA Share File. Um we will um it's a place where we can we can organize ourselves and keep our our documents so you can access them between meetings. We will keep meeting minutes and presentations there. Um a copy of your operating procedures. We do have a web page at tea but um
066we can put a little bit more information in this workspace that we would not put on the website. Um we have some flyers, some training flyers um um that were developed um to promote the compact in our state um that we can uh make available. Other communications um that might be things that you need to come back to um and reference important links as I referenced um and we'll have our meeting meeting dates um and other reminders. So we are still filling out the folder structure, but what you need to know is that you'll receive um an invitation. Oh, I'll mention so I mentioned that bio template. We can send that out in in an email in advance, but we can also put a copy of that template um and any other like homework or
067items that you may need to review before the next meeting, we can make available to you in this in this workspace. But what you need to know is that um you'll be receiving an invitation to join the TEA share file system. I don't know exactly what that looks like, but I believe it's it's a link. Um I wanted folks to know it's safe to to click on that. you're hearing about it here in advance before the end of the week and and expect that invitation. You'll just be asked to set up a password. Um, and then you'll be able to go directly into um into your folder. Actually, I say directly into I believe it's a two-step process. I think you log into uh share file and you will have to choose shared folders because
068I am sharing a folder with you. There will be little folder there shared folders. Um and then you you'll have your uh state advisory council folder in there. So, if you have any questions or concerns about the email, the link, or setting up your account and logging in, um please don't hesitate to reach out to me directly, but I wanted you to um know in advance that that's coming so you um knew that it was a a legitimate request. Uh and hopefully we'll we'll be a good resource and staying on top of of uh council documents and next steps. And so, as I mentioned, um, if you're not prepared today, I would like to, um, encourage folks to be thinking about, um, updates from your neck of the woods for future meetings. Um, but here's
069where I pause and see if we have any, um, council member reports or updates to share. Yes, Brenda. Um, so obviously I'm the House designignate. So I went to Chairman Bucklay's and his staff and asked them if they had any input, what they would like, what they what their expectation is. And so the only thing that we came up with was that we want to make sure that the new Texas education freedom accounts are somehow that the military child doesn't get lost in translation with that opportunity. Um, and so I do u work a bit with the comprollers's office and the comprollers's office right now says that there is a set window for applying and we all know that military children come in throughout the entire year. So um that maybe needs to be addressed
070and I'm not too sure where and how. Uh so right now in general they're just suggesting that we look into making sure that the military child does not miss out on the Texas Education Freedom Account opportunities that will be available to all Texas students. And I say all meaning um it's not all at this point. there is um a dollar amount in the budget. Um without getting into too much detail, but we do want to make sure that they have that information available to them. Thank you for the update. Questions or comments for member Howard? >> I think yes. Yes. I was going to say that as the school leazison officers we have shared that information with uh our channels that it is available and when the uh um window opens for applying it's a
071you know little step but we are trying to get that information out there to our military family. >> I love that. Perfect. Thank you, Simone. >> Thank you for sharing that. Um, I was going to chime in. One of the things that the agency has done through the council to start is to invite um staff from TEA that can speak to a particular um policy or or statute. Um, so for example, some council members may be more familiar than others um with the Texas free zone accounts and so it might be helpful um I can offer to see if we have a staff member who might be able to provide any just background so that there's a shared understanding of the council and then from there um discussion of of of if this might be
072how the council might want to or if this aligns with the priorities for the 2026 and distribution of information what that might look like. But starting with like an informational session so that um there's uh again kind of a shared understanding. Understood Dr. Craft. Thank you so much. Um would that be helpful? Is there an interest in in having if we can identify a staff member who might be able to give an overview um some information about the policy um at a future meeting as an agenda item? >> I would love that so that we're all on the same page. we can look into that. Thank you. Other updates um or reports from members. Well, again, the invitation um is a standing one for each meeting. Um, there's probably more to share than than you
073think of in in in the moment, but jot them down as they come up. Um, I think these can also be issues um that have come up that that are with or without resolution um because that's what the council um one of uh of our roles is to address those issues and topics. And that actually is going to segue me to um a slide here in a bit. So hold that thought and we'll go ahead and unless we have let me actually last call for other reports or updates. All right then we'll go ahead and transition to the 2026 council priorities um agenda item that I had mentioned. Um so this is what I was just referring to about issues and topics. Um wanted to start with just a a a reminder. I think this
074would be a helpful part of I've mentioned onboarding and one pagers um for future council members the role of the state advisory council um is to assist in in dissemination of information about the military compact um but two three and four are all kind of related to identifying topics and and issues of interest which is a little more broad than the compact that um our parents our students are facing our districts and schools are facing and then advising ing the commissioner of education which is also advising the agency um and our you have two tea representatives um serving in this council um that we are advising the topics of interest to military families um which I think member Howard has has has just um just done. The fifth uh role um of the council is
075um advising TEA regarding dispute resolution issues related to the military compact. And I think um if I haven't said already, the priorities the council has already addressed for identified for this upcoming year really align to um this role well um but particularly have some ideas and some conversation about um dispute resolution and issues which I'm going to say are aka case studies. So we'll talk about that a little bit more in just a bit. Um and then we have some compliance um items. We are required by statute to uh convene at least once a quarter abide by the Texas Open Meeting Act which includes I I did not review who has done their homework um but we are maintaining our administrative assistant Junior Ayaga is keeping track of all of the submissions of your certificates
076for the open meeting act. We are in fact in compliance. We had to move a meeting to do it. So thank you again for your flexibility of rescheduling so that we were posted for this meeting. Um but that is one of the requirements um that we each complete that training and that we abide by um the the policies in the act, the requirements in the act. Um and then to establish policies and procedures that govern the council. The operating procedures we just amended as a council. Um that's another document that we'll make sure that we have included. We do have operating procedures and I'll make sure that that is included in our share file space um that you can read at your convenience and your leisure. Moving to um the priorities that the council identified
077for 2026. Um there's really the the conversation began is just continuing the efforts to increase awareness of the military interstate compact. It is still surprising to hear um how many students and parents that they they didn't know it exists. They didn't know that there were protections for them um at a national level as they move between um state school systems. Um but it was we drilling down a little bit more into into that. Um I there was the idea of increasing communications with districts with lower numbers of military connected families that have limited awareness of the compact. One of the action steps that I identified and how um we could move forward with this was was data and Dr. Lelay just shared with us a slide where we can see across the ESC where our
078high numbers of military connected students are. Um and so as we reach out and look for those district administrators, we might focus there and maybe it's a different conversation than about how we can increase um uh that communication with those districts with the lower numbers because not always. I'm always a little surprised at some of the cases that are escalated to to my level to um weigh in and or convene or coordinate a response to um I'm sometimes a little surprised when it's a district that's that has a high military connected students because I think they they probably already know this information, but it seems like more often than not it is one of those outliers. It might be a student who's living with a grandparent, so they're not near an installation or a base
079that needs that information. And so um starting with the data and identifying who they are and where they are um and then we can talk more about what kinds of initiatives um uh the the council may want to take on to increase that communication. We'd also talked about along reviewing the case studies themselves what the issues are. It's important that the that the council is aware of of what really are these obstacles that we talk about and barriers. We know kids move a lot and that's hard. um but what that actually looks like um at the campus level. Um what are the kinds of um of uh challenges that students are actually encountering? And through that conversation, we we started to talk about um who knows better than our state liaison um officers because they're
080the ones that are getting the majority of those um requests for for support um and service. So more about that in a moment. promoting the criteria for purple star campuses um came up. I want to mention purple star campuses are um actually I I I may pause here for a moment because not everyone may know exactly what a purple star campus is. Dr. Lelay can speak to that. Her her team um coordinates that support. Um so actually why don't I do that before I say the next thing. Do you mind giving a highle um overview of of the purple star campuses and application process Dr. Lei? Uh absolutely. Can you hear my audio? Okay. Okay, perfect. Um so, Purple Star campus designation was uh built upon the 86 legislature and it is part of the
081Texas education code. It is a voluntary designation that campuses could apply for and it signifies that the campus has done an extraordinary job um in fulfilling the four required criteria of um that was designated by uh statute. So the four criteria includes uh designating a campus-based military liaison. Um that is not a federally funded position or a required position. But in order to be a purple star campus um then you have to have a campus u point of contact so that families um who may be interested in coming to the school or have questions uh throughout the school year has somebody that is designated for um that that role. Um the second one is uh an easily accessible and uh actively maintained campus uh military web page. Most districts will have a tiny little snippet
082about military um opportunities, but Purple Star designates that each campus that would like the designation have a campusbased military uh web page to indicate opportunities that are uh specific for that campus. Um transition assistance. Um there's a whole list of required components within that web page. Um so it acts as a resource hub. The third one is uh designating and establishing an active campus transition program because we all know the transition is a difficult piece for military connected students. And so when we can uh establish a campus can establish a transition program um even if it includes you know welcoming the student having that point of contact counseling services that are available um sometimes it is a studentled or a student ambassador programs because peer-to-peer it's a lot easier to connect than it is with
083an adult. So um it depends on the campus that but they have two routes. It can be an adult-led which would be the campus-based military liaison or a studentled program but the campus-based military liaison would have to support that student ambassador program because um there has to be some sort of monitoring. The last one is um participation in one of the three military initiatives. And this could include the November veterans and military family appreciation month. Could be April's month of military child or it could be um having a resolution indicating the commitment the district and the school has for ensuring the educational and social emotional um success of military connected students. Um, and then the other route is also um having active duty uh military um staff members come in um to be able to
084volunteer or support the school um in like reading. There's a whole array of things that they can do. So with all four of those, if they can demonstrate that they've met those criteria, then they would get the Purple Star Campus designation. Included would be a press release by the governor. It would be a letter from the commissioner um Mike Morraff. Um their school would be included in texaschools.gov um which a lot of our family members go to and they will look for purple star campus designated schools before they start you know looking for schools that they want um their child to enroll in. but also um they receive a high resolution uh logo of our purple star in which we've seen a lot of creative ways um schools will use to make uh t-shirts will
085make banners and they'll promote it and it just signifies it's an easy way to signify to the community and the families that um they are dedicated to um supporting military connected students and families. >> Dr. I want to point out that purple star campus is it is cedar fever season in central uh Texas. Um if you know you know um so I'm a little froggy. Um other parts of the state uh I'm originally from the eastern part of the state where we did we did not suffer or um but it is um again if you know you know it's it's a a high allergy season related to our cedar trees here. So, apologies for my I've held out for about an hour, which is pretty good. But what I wanted to say is that the
086Purple Star campuses and that that initiative the uh application process are separate and apart from the military compact. Um, so I want to be really clear that those are they're they're not aligned or affiliated. But when we talk about promoting the criteria for purple star campuses, like those those criteria, I think we could all agree are are best practices for supporting military uh connected students. And if you as a have a designated liaison on a campus, that person is going to know about the military compact and ensure that the provisions of those compact are being offered and afforded to the students in that district. And so, um, I think that was Dr. Craft has had to uh is not with us, but this was his recommendation like these are criteria that we should be promoting
087um across Texas school districts whether they choose to go through the application or not. But if we also see an increase in the number of our of our school districts that are that are seeking that that designation um we are then vicariously supporting the compact. Um so thank you for that overview. Going to take a quick sip of water. Excuse me. Number four, reinforcing the council's connections with our schools on officers. Um, and I'm going to pause for a moment here. I reached out to Simone to uh uh to also if give us just a high level overview similar to Dr. uh Lei as we talk about the school leaison officers. We talk about them often, but I want to make sure especially we have a new council member today um that we have just
088just an an overview of this very important role um that supports both the compact um and um our students um directly at the campus level. >> Yes. Well, thank you so much. I will keep it short, but let me start by saying that the state of Texas is represented by an incredible slow team that uh works together well and represents the installations uh where they are stationed like uh um wonderfully. So I want to start with that. So our stakeholders as the school liazison officers include the local school districts uh community agencies, our installation command teams and of course our military families and students. Um we assist families with the school transition uh with placement with special education issues. We support our homeschool uh population. We provide deployment support and help in navigating uh the
089local school district uh uh policies and systems. So if a family uh joins us, we will help them in navigating where do I need to um enroll, how do I enroll and things like that. We also help with uh postsecary uh um education. If a high school student comes in wants to have information about scholarships, we assist with that. And then of course, and this is I have to say when most of our families hear about the school leazison office when they have issues in the schools. So we help with navigating the mick three as well. So any issues that uh they might experience the school leazison officers are there to support. So we serve as the link between the military installation and the local school systems. Uh we provide crucial information to our command
090teams uh to keep them informed of school related issues and trends. Uh so we serve as the subject matter expert for our um respective installations when it comes to prek through 12 education. We develop uh solutions um uh in in with partnerships with all of our stakeholders that will ease the transition and the barriers for our military families. So if we see uh uh trends in education, we have several and every uh installation might have a different forum but we spearhead forums that brings together uh Ford uh for example here Fort Bliss leadership with our 10 districts to uh come up with how can we support our uh families as a region. So it is our task to build those robust partnerships between the installation and the community and we do that in a variety
091of forums. Uh our most uh valued asset I think are the relationships and connections that we have built to uh uh state agencies to local agencies and to the Texas installations uh um as a whole. uh and so we are able to assist our military families by connecting them and reaching out uh uh on their behalf. Um so we also actively support our educators um by providing workshops on the migree and other uh uh research military culture. Uh so that is another thing that we do that we uh work with our schools. We provide trainings on Mick 3 uh um parent workshops on Mick 3 so that we can provide our families with those resources so uh no matter where they go, how many transitions they have, they are able to advocate for their children
092and they know how to navigate the system uh not just here in Texas but wherever they go. Um so this in a oh and we I shouldn't forget that we have an active role with the purple star designation. Uh many of the schools that are seeking uh uh this um designation will reach out to the slows and we help with training. We help with um uh implementation of a peer program for the uh school districts so that they have a starting point to fulfill all of these um these categories that they need to have in order to get the purple star designation. I think that you know and and uh the slow position is um very complex. No day uh is the same. Uh uh Monday is not like Tuesday. So, but I think this
093is uh in a nutshell what we do. Uh and I hope that helps. >> Very helpful and very important work. Um just going back to when we look at the the role of of the council, I just highlights for me that really you do all three of the two three number two, three and four, those topics and is and issues that are interest to the parents and the students because you work at the parent at the family level. but also the identification of those topics and issues of interest to the districts and schools as that liaison. Many working directly and side by side with the school system um or even on on on the base with the school. Um and then in terms of advising the the commissioner of education or or the agency of
094those issues, the connection um that you have with with me and my office um and ensuring that um that the those issues as as they come there's awareness um and working towards resolution. Um and so you you span um um all of the all of the interested all of the entities or parties um related to this work um filling the vacancies on the council. we've talked about quite a a bit. So, I'll I'll move us forward. I actually I had one question for you um member Hendrickx um and want to and open up for if any other council members have questions for you, but can you talk a little bit for us before I move us on about how um the school leaison officers areworked um and your interactions as as as a larger group?
095>> Okay. Yes. Uh so we we uh meet on a quarterly basis just to uh uh you know there's an ongoing uh um if something comes up and and somebody has something to share we are on an we are on a team's uh uh channel where we can connect but uh um we do have a quarterly meeting where all the slows get together uh to discuss any issues and to compile the the MC3 issues that we are required to report uh once a year in support of the uh the MC3 annual um conference. So we we try to connect at least quarterly to see where the issues are. Um and uh it's a very um it's a group that shares a lot of their resources. So we're very fortunate with that. But quarterly is how
096often we we we try to meet. Thank you. Any other questions for member Hendris? >> So, how many do liaison do we have in this state? >> Oh, um, you know what? I'm I would have to I I don't have >> Is it safe to Is it about 20? >> It's Yeah, I think a little bit less than that. Um yeah, >> which I learned um in my first annual business meeting um for Mick 3 that there are states that have one or two. Um but we are we are Texas. We're a much bigger state where we've got a lot more kids and a and a and a a lot more um and a lot more installations um than than other states. Um so they are our almost 20 stay stay very busy. >> 16.
097Thank you. Other questions? Right. With that with that, I will kind of transition to the last kind of order of of business um or discussion I'd like to have um with the council today. I did want to show um Dr. Lei helped to pull together um this graphic. Um she didn't help, she did it. Um on the left hand side, we have um our membership. You can see the council members that are identified in statute uh in yellow. We've got some additional representatives that in the operating procedures the council identified that TEA um would uh would reach out to or or would designate. Um we are required to have a military representative for each branch and something those are in in um uh in green there. Um so each of with the ex exception of
098the exeicio positions will update this to reflect the vote that the the council took today. Um each branch identifies their own representative. Um Simone is actually our and then the the DoD is uh makes um is required to make a designation for um for the council. I may not be saying that exactly right, but Simone is our is our design identified by the by the DoD and as the army representative. Simone, would you say that differently than I anything to add or would you say that differently than how I just presented your role? >> No, ma'am. You're good. Okay. Um, very gracious. So, we took the priorities that the council identified and they just happened to kind of perfectly organize in in sets of twos across these three categories of stakeholder engagement and outreach. Um,
099and this is not an exact science, but more uh in in the stakeholder engagement and outreach, just these continued efforts to increase awareness of the military interstate compact. Um, and then this is where we've placed this this idea of increasing our communication with districts with lower uh military connected students enrollment and our training opportunities and resource dissemination. This idea of bringing in more case studies um as well as using the criteria for purple star campuses as potential, you know, training opportunity and uh and leveraging those best practices across the state. And then our strategic partnership and leadership um engagement um wanting to make sure we're reinforcing connections with the school as officers um um aka our slows. Um so much of this work is happening in both Dr. Lay's um shop um in um on
100the grounds, boots on the grounds with the slows. Um, and I think it's just making sure that we're we're we're we're we're connecting, that we're aware of the work that each other is doing so that we're aligning, supporting, and applauding um that work um as as a larger entity um the state of Texas um and our support system for our military connected students. Um before move on, also that strategic partnership and leadership is filling our vacance uh uh council positions. So, we won't necessarily talk about each of these things each meeting, but what I did want to pull um pull out and talk to you talk to you about today, I've taken some of those goals um and have a document where we've identified some action steps that I'll bring up um before the council
101um as needed and relevant. Um but I wanted to look at the u uh the goal of reinforcing our connections with our school leaison officers. And one of the action steps that um we had talked about is adding um bringing them into our meetings. Um to and this actually kind of feeds two birds with one seed is the um how we say it in in my family. Um is also this idea of bringing in case studies. If you see in our second goal of reviewing more case studies so that we are really aware of the direct challenges that are faced um by our students. And so this idea of a a a school as officer officer spotlight um in our meetings um I think we could we could do both of those those things and
102hear hear from them um both in case studies I think not limiting that spotlight to case studies but certainly could be and um ask Simone the question of how frequently because I think they could also kind of set themsel up if if we could take a little bit of the time of those meetings and what they might like to present to um the advisory uh council and um I can work directly um with member Hendrickx and kind of scheduling um figuring out what agenda items we might bring into this uh the idea of this spotlight. I wanted to kind of ask that the the council um you know is that something that we would want to just kind pilot and and bring into a meeting? um is it something that um we think we would
103have the time to address in in every meeting as well as would like to hear from Simone if she thinks that um what she thinks would be the right cadence of that. But but um yeah, so I'm just kind of opening that up for discussion about um establishing a an agenda item um where we hear from the school officers. That could be a rotating. It could be also member Hendrickx an item that you lead. Maybe you present and then it would be at um at your discretion if you wanted to bring in a member to co-present with you. So just wanted to have some discussion around the idea of creating this spotlight agenda and the frequency if this is something we would like to pilot or um make a part of the regular standing meeting
104items. Can I just add that I think it might be uh important uh for all of you to meet the slow team. Uh uh I mean I'm not sure if at every meeting or I mean that's uh up to uh to your discretion but uh originally I think it would be great if the slows uh uh could be uh present so that you can know who is there to represent which uh um installation. I am let taking notes um that we can certainly look at different ways that we could coordinate that in the future. Have a some support in the chat from from member Howard. And then once we've done that though, moving on to the the idea of um bringing in um this idea, I've been using the term spotlight. Um we might discuss
105a bit if that's something that the committee would like to add as a as one of our standing items of the agenda. um or starting with or as as as needed as there are items to discuss that come out of the quarterly meeting from the school lays on officers. Maybe uh we could combine the spotlight with the uh case study to where uh a slow is um you know highlighted but can also bring some of the issues or or uh concerns to the council. >> Right. >> Yeah. I think what we can do since we're we're a a small a small group today, um we will continue our our uh our efforts at number five of filling our vacancies. I think what we can do is um member Hendricks, if you would if you and
106I could set up some time to meet and and maybe figure out what um how to how to move forward with this item, what that might look like, and we can talk more about cadence. um um how what you we think is is the right um timing, if it's something that we'll just do on an ad hoc basis or if a schedule would be easier. And so I think the two if you and I could talk offline and then come back um at the next meeting potentially with an item andor just with a a plan for moving forward and how we will better incorporate um our school officers and and their activities in in our meetings. >> Yes, ma'am. That would be great. The last item, so let the minutes reflect that. Um, member Snider
107and and member I never did change my name. I'm still Zoom webinar, but um, member Snider and member Hendrickx will meet offline to discuss a plan moving forward um, to integrate um, uh, and reinforce our connections with schools and officers as a part of our of our standing state advisory council business. Um the last um item um that I pulled out um for this meeting was about developing a comm oh sorry continuing efforts to increase awareness of of the military interstate compact. Um, and so one one of the things I would like to do um, and we can talk um, more at a future meeting about if this is work that we would take on during a committee meeting or if there's any members who would be interested as a subcommittee and meeting offline to
108start to develop kind of a communication plan just starting with the, you know, what um, what communications we as a council might want to disseminate as one of our roles in disseminating information. I believe it was number one on that slide. Um, and so more conversation. I think that's a longer term initiative um that um we'll just be working at ongoing as a part of council business. But I wanted to start with the month of the military child which as Dr. Lelay mentioned is is coming up in April. Um and asking the group if there's any activities in which the council would like to support or engage in in support of the month of the military child. Um again small group new members. So just to kick us off in this conversation in the past
109um we sent out um the agency sent out on behalf of the council uh communication to each of the installations just reminding them about the it is the month of the military child. We could um include Dr. links to Dr. Lay's resources that she mentioned their web page the toolkit. Um, so that I'll go ahead and put offer up that idea because it's something the council's done in the past and so we can talk about that's something you'd like to do again. And if you have any other ideas or suggestions that you would like to uh to present, I will ask as as as we get to the end of our meeting u of um I will ask that in a more direct way. Would the council like to um send out um letters to
110the installation commanders regarding the month of the military child again this year? Are there any objections to said letter? >> Uh would it be more beneficial going to the districts versus the installation commanders? because I think military installations are very well aware that April is month of the milit month month of the military child not just from an education lens but I think a lot of the districts and the school staff may not know that. So maybe in parallel if we are going to send a note to the to the installations also send it to the local districts that may not have that big of a footprint of military members. >> I suggest Dr. relate. Have we historically sent out a to the administrator address about month of the military child or press release? We
111have not, but um we do send out a newsletter um and a listerve announcement prior to um but since we are rolling out a Texas education agency toolkit for the month of Military Child, we are waiting for that and it would be a good idea for us to connect with our marketing and communication department to be able to send out a taa. >> We've got a couple of different communication uh mechanisms. So, um, let the minutes reflect that, uh, we'll work with, uh, Dr. Lee's office to advertise and promote the new toolkit. Given that the toolkit is a new resource, I do want to come back to, um, the military installations and ask if there um, if we would still want to send a letter letting them know the toolkit's available, and is that the
112right avenue or point of contact installation commanders, or is there a better place to direct those communications? From my perspective, the installations commanders would be the right source and then for Laughlin specifically, it would just get turned over to myself or Janette as a slow. >> You're saying for uh for for for your base, we just send it directly to to you and bypass the process. But >> it still be it would still be good to engage with the installation commander so that they know. >> Great. Um Simone, is there anything um how do we best Dr. Lelay, do you have a direct line of communication with the schools and officers that that information would go directly to them or do we need to use a different network other than what we just discussed the
113commanders and the to the administrator address? >> No, we have a directory of all of our uh liaison um our school liaison and so we can send out communication through that avenue. Um a a question that I have is I'm I'm still um learning the landscape. TEA has an identified date but individual campuses you said can identify uh a date that they uh would c if they choose to celebrate that they would ser uh celebrate purple. So that is might be different across the state. >> Yes. Uh we just established because our grantee is with MSE that MSE and TEA would celebrate together to show unity. Um but we do know that even MC 3 will designate a different um day and then schools because they have conf conflicts with state assessments. Uh sometimes they
114don't have the opportunity to do all the activities that they would like to they would designate a different day. >> Thank you for um confirming that. Great. Well, so that we have a couple of action steps. Um, and I think we can also just as I mentioned a communication plan. Um, I think we can just make that a part of the standing communication plan. Um, that we will do that. Um, and so we don't need to ask every month. Those will just be um standard steps that we take, but always open to to new suggestions um if there are other ways new and different ways that that we can um celebrate the month of the military child. That moves us to upcoming events, which is really our last item. Um, just letting folks know if
115you have not Oops, got a um need a comma somewhere where I have a period. Sorry, I shouldn't out myself. But um on February 26th, um there is a um military compact 101 training for members who have not completed their training or any member of the public who's interested. These are the trainings that are virtual online conducted by the national headquarters. Um so just letting folks know that data is coming up this month. Um the Fort Hood annual education summit is um conducted on February 27th, 2026. Um so the uh that school leaison network is pulling together a couple of surrounding districts for an educating education summit. Um which um fortunately I was not able to attend uh the summit in Fort Bliss last year but um we'll be able to attend um the Fort
116uh summit later this month. Um there is an interest meeting which Dr. Lei covered. Just wanted to pull that date out again. Um for campuses that are interested in submitting an application um that will be included in that's included in this presentation. Um that will be posted online if you didn't catch um the the link or information and how to find that um earlier. Um, I also pulled in just the professional development meeting that she highlighted. And then of course, our month of the military child and as we just discussed, purple up day for month of the military child will be celebrated or acknowledged and celebrated by TEA and our grantee and sec on April 10th. Last upcoming upcoming events I want to make sure folks have on their calendars are our state advisory council
117meetings. Um, the next two meetings that are scheduled are April 20th, 2026 and July 20th. Oh my goodness, we're missing a two there. Um, July 20th of 2026. Um, we will need to determine our one more date in October um to round out 2026. Um, and so we'll um we'll we can probably discuss that in in April. We'll identify that a meeting date and then if we have any issues with it, we can discuss that in our next meeting. With that um to our final final item um we come to adjourn. I will go ahead and call that um that as uh 239 adjourning the February meeting. Um I will talk to you about that. That's a great question member Howard. Um I think we can certainly coordinate that if that invitation is not already
118in route. So u we'll talk to you offline. If anyone else has any other questions or comments, please let me know. But we uh for February and quarter 2 meeting this meeting is adjourned. Thank you everyone.