K-12 Education Standards and the Military-Base Economy

In October 2013, General Raymond Odierno, Chief of Staff of the Army, underscored the importance of school standards and performance on future basing decisions and stated that communities that host military installations must pay greater attention to education. Education standards and performance vary widely among these host communities. Many host communities are economically dependent on the military and on soldiers’ wages, and base closure decisions could have a considerable impact on local and regional economies.
 
A new Stimson report, “The Army Goes to School: The Connection Between K-12 Education Standards and the Military-Base Economy,” has concluded that education standards are inextricably linked to the fiscal health of communities that host military installations. The report raises important budgetary questions, which are particularly salient as Washington debates recommendations for an overhaul of the U.S. military’s compensation system and ways to meet the Pentagon’s budget cap without compromising national security.
 

Keynote Remarks:
Lieutenant General David Halverson, Commander, U.S. Army Installation Management Command and Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management

Panel Discussion:
Carla Coulson, Director, Installation Services, Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management
 
Amy Zink, Former Military Spouse and Education Advocate

Moderated by:
Matthew Leatherman, Stimson Non-Resident Fellow, Budgeting for Foreign Affairs and Defense and author of report “The Army Goes to School:  The Connection Between K-12 Education Standards and the Military-Base Economy”

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