Military members serving overseas are under the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) between the United States and the perspective county. I homeschooled in Okinawa Japan and had absolutely no problem whatsoever with it.

The only problem I could foresee as a possible problem for an American military family homeschooling in a place like Germany *might* be if they lived off base and if the family is NOT command sponsored — ie the military member has a short tour of a year or less — and the family chooses to pay their own way to Germany and live off the ecomony but has not been given permission from the military to be there as a family. Jessica’s comment leads me to believe they are there on orders of at least 3 years, and are most likely command sponsored. Most families are like hers and fall into a safe category, so to speak.

The state department has its own provisions for other non-military representatives of the United States. I don’t know positively that they call those agreements SOFA, like with the military, but I’m sure they have something in place.

As for missionaries who choose to serve God in Germany, I’m sure they go there with the thought that if God is sending them, then He will a) either provide a way for them to homeschool, or b) protect their children in the school system they are in. God is always in control and when He calls, He provides.

Have a blessed week!
Sallie

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The process I had to go through was not complicated at all. I will have a 6th grader, 3rd grader, and Pre-K. I had to register with DoD school, but also had to mention and ‘withdrawal’ them as HOMESCHOOLERS. The Student/School Liason does not even take our name/number/information for his office. Policy has change, I suppose, but I would not know for this is our first experience.

I was told that yes, I am able to use the school facilities–SAS building (during school hours), school library, school tech lab, and I will also have my boys take the standardize testing for the 6th and 3rd grade (this coming school year).

As for Germany, yes, it is illegal to homeschool in this country. The difference is that my family is protected since my husband is Active Duty service member. Germany has no right to intervene in that department. We also live on (off-post housing) —so for me, I feel safe and have no worries about the German government saying anything about our homeschool. IF we were civilians (working for German government) or Missionaries, then that’s a different subject. German government could and will intervene. I have seen that first hand with missionaries I know.

The thing that got me was that DoD does not give out ‘guidelines’ like States do…but, since ‘we’ plan to retire to Ohio in a couple of years…I have and will go by Ohio standards for homeschooling…but I do not have to contact the State of Ohio until we move to that State.

SO overall the process going from DoD school to homeschool has been fairly easy.

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This is a very informative article and I am certain that many people will benefit from it! I am no longer in the military but would have found this even more valuable if I were. Great article.