Florida Students Advocate for Military Families, Draft Law Signed by Governor
Over 600,000 military families relocate to new communities each year, facing challenges like frequent moves and lack of educator awareness. Four Florida high school graduates, including Kaitlyn Chin, have made a significant impact by advocating for military families.
The students discovered that educators in Florida were unaware of the Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission (MIC 3), an agreement between all 50 states to ease military transitions for children. They found that military children faced issues with credit transfers and timely enrollment, leading to academic delays and emotional stress.
Kaitlyn and her peers drafted a law requiring educator training on supporting military families. They lobbied legislators, and on May 30, 2025, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed their bill into law. The new law aims to improve the transfer process for military children and better prepare educators to support them.
The students' project, Blue Star Welcome Week, has set a precedent for supporting military families. Their law will ensure educators are trained to assist military children, potentially reducing academic delays and emotional stress caused by frequent moves. The students hope their project serves as a model for other young people to support military families.
