SCHOOL LIAISON OFFICE
The School Liaison Program provides military-connected children the opportunity to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally, regardless of duty station, deployments, or transition status by partnering with families, community members, educators and other policymakers.
About THE PROGRAM
STUDENT FOCUSED, PARTNERSHIP DRIVEN
The Mission of the School Liaison Officer (SLO) at Edwards AFB is to coordinate education support services to maximize opportunities for academic success for transitioning military and civilian children/youth.
The SLO is the central point of contact for school related matters working directly with Edwards base leadership, families, school districts, and local communities.
The SLO fosters and promotes quality education for military and civilian children by providing resource and referral services to family support agencies on Edwards AFB and in the local community.
PCSing to Edwards AFB
Please review the Welcome Packet below for information about on-base schools, off-base schools, homeschooling in California, registration requirements, local child-care options, and much more!
California Department of Education
Local Public-School Districts
On Base
- Muroc Joint Unified: muroc.k12.ca.us
Off-Base
- Antelope Valley Union High School: avdistrict.org
- Eastside Union K-8: eastsideusd.org
- El Tejon Unified School District: el-tejon.k12.ca.us
- Gorman Joint: gormanschool.com
- Hughes-Elizabeth Lakes Union: helus.org
- Keppel Union: keppelunion.org
- Lancaster School District: lancsd.org
- Mojave Unified K-12: mojave.k12.ca.us
- Palmdale School District: palmdalesd.org
- Southern Kern Unified: skusd.k12.ca.us
- Tehachapi Unified: tehachapiusd.com
- Westside Union: westside.k12.ca.us
- Wilsona School District: wilsonasd.net
Home Schooling
Universal PreK (UPK) & Transitional Kindergarten (TK)
Academic Support
Military families have access to free, professional tutors 24/7 from anywhere in the world for help with homework, studying, test prep, college coursework, career transitions, and more.
Please visit:
Postsecondary Preparation
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I contact the Edwards AFB School Liaison Specialist?
Our current School Liaison Specialist is Rebecca Balkenbush
Phone Number: 661-277-2456 or DSN: 527-2456
Email: rebecca.balkenbush@us.af.mil or 412.fss.school.liaison@us.af.mil
Location: 5 N. Seller Avenue, Bldg. 3000. Located in the FSS Command Section.
2. What school choices do you I have for my child?
You may send your child to a traditional public school where you live, a public magnet school, a public charter school, a private school or home-school.
3. Is there a law that supports military connected students?
Yes, the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children uses a comprehensive approach that provides a consistent policy in every school district and in every State that chooses to join. The goal of the Compact is to replace the widely varying policies affecting transitioning military students.
The Compact addresses key educational transition issues encountered by military families including enrollment, placement, attendance, special education services, eligibility and graduation.
Children of active duty members of the uniformed services, National Guard and reserve on active duty orders, and, for one year after leaving service, members or veterans who are medically discharged or retired are eligible for assistance under the Compact. For additional information, please visit the Interstate Compact Commission at www.mic3.net.
4. What private schools are available?
Your School Liaison Specialist has listings of private schools in the surrounding areas around Edwards AFB. Information on private schools is also available on the California Department of Education website http://www.cde.ca.gov/ds/si/ps/.
The Private School Directory lists over 1,000 private schools that filed the annual Private School Affidavit and reported enrollments of six or more students. The majority of our students attend schools in Kern County, Los Angeles County, and San Bernardino County.
5. Which school is right for my child?
All public schools in California are responsible for California State learning standards. Please review each school’s Academic Performance Index (API) and school climate survey at the link below to determine the best match for your child: http://www.cde.ca.gov/getschoolreport. In addition, please visit CA School Data at http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/ or http://dq.cde.ca.gov/dataquest/.
6. How do I know which school my child will go to?
The California Education Code 48200 states that where you live determines where your child attends a traditional public school.
You may request a permit to transfer however permits are not always granted from your home school district. If you live on base housing your home school district is the MUROC Joint Unified school district. Please visit their web site to obtain a permit to transfer application at www.muroc.k12.ca.us.
7. I want to home-school my child(ren), what do I need to do?
To learn what options your local schools offer, start by asking the public school district in which you live what programs allow schooling at home. A more detailed discussion of the various educational options available is located in the CDE Fact Book 2009 (pages 94-99) on the CDE Fact Book Web page http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/ps/rq/psfaq.asp#D.
8. What is needed to register my child?
Certified copy of a birth record, immunization record, proof of residency, and contact info for last school attended. For Transitional Kindergarten (TK), Kindergarten & 1st grade, if 1st grader has not attended Kindergarten a physical examination and dental screening is required. For special needs, a copy of latest IEP and last evaluation. Copy of Cumulative Folder: Current Schedule/Report Cards/Test Scores and Course Descriptions/Grading Scale if available for 6th grade and above.
9. What is a Magnet School? Are all Magnet Schools gifted in nature?
Federally approved voluntary desegregation plan offering a specialized curriculum, to a student body representing a cross section of the community. They attract students of different racial and socioeconomic backgrounds with similar educational interests, provide unique sets of learning opportunities, encourage innovation, and promote academic gains for students. Not all magnet schools are gifted.
10. What if my child has special needs?
Edwards AFB has the Exceptional Family Member Program – Family Support (EFMP-FS) and the EFMP-Medical. The EFMP-FS Specialist can help navigate and/or connect with community and family support services through:
Information and Referral (before, during, and after PCS) to on-base, local, state, and federal services
Support Services in the form of outreach
Community awareness and education on EFMP
For more information, call the EFMP-Family Support Coordinator, Ms. Stefanie Warner, at 277-0723
Youth Sponsorship Program
So you’re moving! Are you nervous? Scared? Excited? Would you like to get to know someone your age, with similar interests at your new base? A youth sponsor can provide you with info about schools, shopping, and culture & maybe even become your bestie!
Would you like a sponsor? The Youth Sponsorship Program is a way to connect with youth and teens at Edwards.
Fill out the Youth Sponsorship request form and our Youth Programs and/or School Liaison will match you up according to gender, age/grade, and interests/hobbies.
Edwards Force Support Agencies
Community Partnerships
Child and Youth Military & Family Life Counselor Program - CYB-MFLC
School embedded CYB-MFLC’s provide a wide range of support to military children and youth, family members and staff who work with students. They are Masters or Doctorate-level licensed counselors specializing in child and youth behavioral issue and are available at no cost. To provide short-term, non-medical counseling supports. Some of the issues addressed by CYB-MFLC’s are school adjustment, deployment and separation, reunion adjustment, behavioral concerns, fear, grief, loss and more. To contact the school CYB-MFLC, please call 571-331-7463.
Exceptional Family Member Program - EFMP
The EFMP-FS Coordinator is here to assist families with special needs in finding a variety of resource options on Edwards AFB and in the local community. To contact the EFMP-FS Coordinator, please contact the Military & Family Readiness Center at 661-277-2950.
Military Interstate Children's Compact Commision - MIC3
Military Impacted School Association
Military One Source Installations
Connect with School Liaisons Worldwide.
Transition Support
California School Dashboard
The California School Dashboard provides parents and educators with meaningful information on school and district progress so they can participate in decisions to improve student learning.
SCHOOL LIAISON PROGRAM MANAGER
Rebecca Balkenbush
Comm: (661) 277-2456
DSN: 527-2456
Work Cell: (661) 902-8335
How are we doing?
Share your feedback about this facility through the Interactive Customer Evaluation (ICE) Website.