State Rep. Joseph G. Pavlov is working to ensure children in Michigan’s National Guard and Reserve families have the same educational protections available to other military-connected students when their families are required to relocate. 

The Michigan House last week approved Pavlov’s House Bill 4813, which would expand the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children to cover children of currently enlisted National Guard and Reserve members, regardless of whether their parent is on active-duty status. 

“A child shouldn’t have their education disrupted because their mom or dad serves in the National Guard or Reserve,” said Pavlov, R-St. Clair. “Moving to a new school can already be difficult. When that move is connected to a parent’s military service, we should be doing everything we can to provide some stability and make sure that students can pick up where they left off.” 

The interstate compact helps address challenges that can arise when military-connected students transfer between schools in different states. Participating schools follow consistent policies regarding enrollment, academic placement, graduation requirements, extracurricular eligibility, and the transfer of student records. 

Under current law, some children of National Guard and Reserve members can fall outside those protections depending on their parent’s duty status. Pavlov’s plan would close that gap and ensure more military families receive the same assistance during a school transition. 

“National Guard and Reserve members serve their communities and their country while balancing responsibilities at home,” Pavlov said. “Their duty status shouldn’t determine whether their kids receive support when changing schools. This is a simple change that puts students first and gives military parents one less thing to worry about during a move.” 

House Bill 4813 now moves to the Senate for consideration.