Education Benefits:

The Education Service administers the following benefit programs. We are also including documents and forms which will aid school officials, veterans and dependents. We trust you will find what you are looking for in our program descriptions. If you need additional assistance, please call the VA Education Office's toll-free number 1-888-GI-BILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) to speak with a Veterans Benefits Counselor.

Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty (MGIB-AD) General Information

The MGIB program provides up to 36 months of education benefits. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. Generally, benefits are payable for 10 years following your release from active duty. This program is also commonly known as Chapter 30.
Check the "Payment Rates" area for current rates of payment.

Forms  http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/education_forms.htm

This area has common VA forms and related forms available for you to print. Visit this area to see what's there or contact our toll-free number 1-888-GI-BILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) to request Education forms.

Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) General

The MGIB-SR program may be available to you if you are a member of the Selected Reserve. The Selected Reserve includes the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve and Coast Guard Reserve, and the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. Check the "Payment Rates" area for current rates of payment.

Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) General Information

VEAP is available if you first entered active duty between January 1, 1977 and June 30, 1985 and you elected to make contributions from your military pay to participate in this education benefit program. Your contributions are matched on a $2 for $1 basis by the Government. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.

Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (DEA) General Information

DEA provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition, or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service related condition.. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeship, and on-the-job training. If you are a spouse, you may take a correspondence course. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. Check the "Payment Rates" area for current rates of payment.

• The White House - The White House home page has links to a variety of benefit sources available from the Federal Government.

• The U.S. House of Representatives' web site - Information on how to contact representatives.

•   The U.S. Senate's web site provides comparable information plus other links to Senate historical information and art.

• U.S. Department of Education - Home Page for the Dept. Of Education.
  • "Reaching the Goals" is a series of eight books designed to inform people involved in education reform (or people who want to get involved) of the myriad of programs and resources that are available from the federal government to support each of the National Education Goals. The effectiveness of local efforts can be strengthened if reformers are informed of the funding and technical resources that are available.
    The following books are currently available:
    Goal 1: All Children in America Will Start School Ready to Learn
    Goal 4: Teacher Professional Development
    Goal 5: First in the World in Math and Science Technology Resources
    

  • Student Guide to Federal Student Aid Programs - This guide provides valuable information about federal student aid programs. Published by the U.S. Department of Education.

  • Publications for Parents - This area has electronic versions of popular pamphlets and brochures designed to address parents' concerns about their children's education.
    

•   Access America for Students - Access America for Students is a U.S. Government - wide initiative to deliver electronic services from government agencies and organizations to postsecondary students.

• National Science Foundation -

• Library of Congress -

• Department of Labor - Veterans Employment and Training Services. A site designed to make it easier for veterans to obtain civilian job credentials based on military training and experience.   A "MUST SEE" site.

• Department of Labor - Use your Military Experience and Training (UMET) - If you are a servicemember or veteran looking for a civilian job, you should know that, depending on your occupational area, you may need a license or certificate in order to obtain a job in the civilian work force. This web site, UMET, is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS), to make it easier for current and former military personnel to obtain the licenses and certifications they need to practice in the civilian work force.

 

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Military Web Sites

These sites are maintained by the U.S. Military and the Department of Transportation at the Department Level. We are not making any attempt to link to individual military units at this time.

• Department of Defense - DefenseLink
  • DOD Voluntary Education Program - This program provides off-duty civilian high school, vocational-technical, undergraduate and graduate educational opportunities to U.S. military personnel worldwide. These services are provided through the respective Services and their local education centers.
  • Troops to Teachers Program - This program is managed by the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Support (DANTES)
• U.S. Air Force  Department of the Air Force web site.
• U.S. Army Department of the Army web site.
  Army/American Council on Education Registry Transcript System (AARTS).  Get a transcript translating your formal military education and job experience into civilian language, also includes college equivalent credit recommendations.
  Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (COOL) - COOL shows how more than 100 certifications relate to over 200 Army military occupational specialties, with more certifications added every month. 
  • Find civilian credentials related to your military occupational specialty
  • Understand what it takes to obtain the credentials
• U.S. Navy Department of the Navy web site.
• U. S. Marine Corps - MarineLINK
• U. S . Coast Guard

 

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State Veteran's Benefits and Departments of Higher Education

The following sites are maintained at the State level and provide information on specific State Veteran, Reservist, or National Guard benefits or programs.

• State National Guard Tuition Assistance Programs

State Veteran's Web Sites -

• Connecticut State Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Department of Higher Education
  • Connecticut Department of Labor
• Florida Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Directory of Educational Programs and Institutions Enrolling Veterans
• Georgia Department of Veterans Service Education and Training
• Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs
• Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs
• Maine
  • Maine State Approving Agency
  • VA State Education Liaison Representative

• Nevada Commission for Veterans Affairs
• New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
  • New Jersey Veterans Guide
• South Carolina Commission on Higher Education
• South Dakota Department of Military & Veterans Affairs
• Texas Veterans Commission
  • Hazelwood Act for Persian Gulf War Veterans
• Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs

 

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Financial Aid

• SallieMae - Student financial aid Program.
  
• Student Guide to Federal Student Aid Programs - U.S. Department of Education - This guide provides valuable information about federal student aid programs. Published by the U.S. Department of Education.

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Miscellaneous & Employment

• American Council on Education - ACE evaluation teams provide clear guidelines to interpret and recommend credit for formal service-school courses, demonstrated proficiency in military occupations, and college-level tests.
  
• Graduate Record Examinations - This site is the Graduate Record Exam Online. Topics include Financial Aid, Sample Test Questions, Practice And Reference Materials, and other related information.
  
• America's Job Bank - Connecting People & Jobs Nationwide. Post your resume to reach employers nationwide.
  
• America's Learning Exchange - An Online Resource for Education and Training.
  
• America's Career Info Net - Information source for Career Decisions,  National and state-by-state labor market data. Employment trends, wages and more.
  
• Department of Labor - Veterans Employment and Training Services. A site designed to make it easier for veterans to obtain civilian job credentials based on military training and experience.  A "MUST SEE" site.
  
• Veterans Upward Bound Program - This program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and provides free academic services designed to help prepare veterans to enter or re-enter a post-secondary program of study.

Useful Links

http://www.hrc.army.mil
Army Continuing Education System (ACES )

http://www.earmyu.com/
Army University Access Online

http://www.gibill.va.gov
GI Bill

http://aarts.army.mil/
Army Transcript Service (AARTS)

Best and Promising_Practices
SETS: Best and Promising Practices

http://nationalsciencecenter.org/
The National Science Center

http://education.umn.edu/nceo/TopicAreas/Graduation/StatesGrad.htm
High School Graduation Requirements

Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Website: School Information Resources for a Talented, Motivated & Mobile Military Community

LD Online: An interactive guide to learning disabilities for parents, teachers, and children.

Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC): Supporting the Educational Needs of Children from all Military Families

Military Impacted Schools Association (MISA)

National Association of Federally Impacted Schools (NAFIS)

National PTA: The National PTA is the largest volunteer child advocacy organization in the U.S.

No Child Left Behind: Details on the new education law.

Servicemembers' Opportunity Colleges: The Servicemembers' Opportunity Colleges programs are dedicated to helping servicemembers and their families get college degrees, even as they move. Military students can take courses in their off-duty hours at or near military installations in the US, overseas, and on Navy ships.

Specialized Training of Military Parents (STOMP): STOMP is a Parent Information and Training Center for military families of individuals with disabilities.