Military-Connected Families

Armed Forces LogosThank you for your service!

Orlando has a long military history and was once of the home of an McCoy Air Force Base and the Naval Training Center. Today, Orlando continues it commitment to service as home to the:

  • Naval Support Activity Base,
  • Florida Army National Guard 2nd Battalion, 124th Infantry,
  • Florida Army National Guard 53rd Brigade Support Battalion,
  • Florida Army National Guard 164th Air Defense Artillery Brigade,
  • United States Army Reserve 143rd Sustainment Command and,
  • Thirty-two United States Army Reserve Detachments !

Our closest military neighbors are the Canaveral Space Force Base, the Patrick Space Force Base, and the Patrick Airforce Base.

Michael McCoy Elementary school is proud to honor the legacy of U.S. Air Force Colonel Michael McCoy by providing a quality education and nurturing environment for our transitioning military-affiliated students, their families, and the community we all serve! 

This website is most appropriate for families with 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

 

School Contacts

  School Military Point of Contact   Brenda Velez [email protected]
  Parent Engagement Liaison  Luz Reyes-Munoz [email protected]
  Itinerant Social Worker  Julie Hedberg [email protected]
  Licensed Mental Health Counselor  AnnMarie Rodriguez [email protected]
  Itinerant School Psychologist  Sara Sanders [email protected]

Military School Liaison Contacts

School Liaison Program   Patrick Air Force Base   321-494-1991
facebook icon 		 Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 
Closed Saturdays, Sundays, and Family Days

Transition Planning

It is our goal to make transitioning to Michael McCoy Elementary School as seamless as possible. 

  • REVIEW OUR CALENDAR  Every school and school district are different, please review our district calendars to begin planning your transition. Click here to access OCPS calendars in a new window.

  • REGISTER YOUR STUDENT

    During the registration process, you will identify your family's military status, which allows us to provide you with the best possible support. This link takes you to the Registration Packets page to download and complete a registration packet and save to your computer. Please email the completed packet to our Registrar at [email protected] . If deployment orders have resulted in the student living apart from their parent, please click here to make an appointment with Student Enrollment, to apply for Educational Guardianship. NOTE: Bring a copy of deployment orders to appointment.

  • MEET OUR LEADERSHIP

    We recommend that you make an appointment to speak with our school's Principal or Assistant Principal prior to the first day your student will attend school so that we can get to know your family and your specific needs. We are happy to set up a face-to-face, phone, or video conference discussion. 

  •  JOIN THE PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION 

     Joining the PTA is a great way to meet local families and network with families experiencing similar circumstances.

  • REVIEW RESOURCES

    Take a moment to review the resources below that have been curated for our military families. 

Jets Patrol Student Transition Team

TThe Jets Patrol Transition Team is made of fifth grade students that demonstrate leadership and citizenship.

On a student's first day at McCoy, they receive a school tour with a Jets Patrol member who introduces them to important staff members and other students with similar experiences. 

Academic Planning Steps and Resources

Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children

As a member of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, Florida recognizes the need to provide supports to students of military families. Today’s military children and families experience unique hardships. They move frequently and must adjust to new living environments, schools and peer groups much more than their civilian counterparts. They live through repeated cycles of separation and reunion.The compact rules are designed to: 

- Facilitate the transfer of education records and enrollment
- Promote smooth transitions to graduation
- Promote seamless transitions for course and educational placements
- Consider circumstances for excused absences
- Facilitate eligibility for enrollment in school and extracurricular participation.

Learn more about the Military Interstate Children's read the Parents Guide! (Spanish)

OCPS & the Florida Standards

OCPS continues this commitment by providing military-connected youth with access and opportunity to diverse academic programs while supporting their on-time acquisition of the Florida Standards.To learn more about the Florida Standards for elementary schools and our school's core instructional materials, please click here. 

Student Courses

Our school will review your child's transcripts and school records to make the most appropriate academic placement. If your family is relocating from out of state, then your student will be allowed to continue their enrollment at grade level.  Our school uses a multi-tiered system of support to ensure students reach grade-level standards on-time. 

FREE Tutor.com for U.S. Military Families

This service provides tutoring and homework help at no cost to active duty service members and their eligible dependents. Click here to access. 

Mental Health and Resiliency Resources

There are many challenges military students face due to their unique situation, such as having a parent deployed for extended periods of time, changing schools, and leaving friends.
The Parent Mental Health Helpline is available for parents to call during school hours. A staff member from the Mental Health Team will assist you with finding resources and explain the counseling services that OCPS offers. Parent Mental Health Helpline: 407-317-3694.

Families can also access Parent Resources for Life Skills and Student Resiliency by clicking here.

Exceptional Student Education Information and Resources

OCPS Exceptional Student Education 

OCPS offers exceptional student education services to students ages birth through age 22 at all public school sites. We are committed to providing a Free Appropriate Education (FAPE) in accordance with federal, state, and local mandates. In keeping with that philosophy, if your child has an existing Individual Education Plan (IEP),  Education Plan (EP), or Section 504 Plan, it will be reviewed by our school Staffing Specialist and OCPS will provide comparable services based on current plans. OCPS will determine if any additional evaluation is needed and develop a local plan within 10 days. 

If you have any questions or concerns about the school's Exceptional Student Education program placement, please reach out to the district's ESE Policy and Procedure team at 407-317-3279 or the ESE Parent Outreach Team at [email protected]. 

Exceptional Family Member Program 
The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) is provided across all branches of the military to give support to special medical or educational needs and access to support services to help navigate the medical and educational system.  EFMP family support helps service members and their families identify and access programs and services. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:

- Information and referrals for military and community services Education and outreach
- Information about available local school and early intervention services
- Warm handoffs to the Exceptional Family Member Program at new locations
- Non-clinical case management, including family services plans

Patrick Air Force Base has a EFMP Support Coordinator who can be reached at 321-494-5676. 

Resources and Educational Opportunities for Military Students

School Clubs and Activities 

McCoy Elementary School has many after school enrichment opportunities available for students once enrolled. Click here to view our Clubs listing in a new window.

Military & Family Life Counseling

Military Family Life Counselors are Masters or Doctorate-level licensed counselors who provide short-term, non-medical counseling services to members and their families at no cost  to deal with the stresses related to military life. Personnel eligible to meet with counselors are Active Duty families, Active Duty individual, and Active Duty couples and children. 

Patrick Space Force Base | 321-301-0406
Patrick Air Force Base Airman and Family Readiness Center | 321-494-5676
Military OneSource

U.S. Department of Defense's network of support for the military community  Click here for website, or call 800-342-9647
Military Child Care

A Department of Defense program that makes it easier to find the child and youth care your family needs

Click here for the Military Child Care website, or call 855-696-2934.

Deployment Specific Resources

United Through Reading films a service member reading a book at the USO center during their deployment. The book and DVD are mailed home. Click here to access United Through Reading in a new window.

Sesame Street Talk, Listen, Connect: Helping Military Families During Deployment provides bilingual multimedia resources designed to help military families and their young children cope with challenges of deployment and build resilience in times of separation and change. Click here to access Talk, Listen, Connect in a new window.

Additional Resources

Military Child Education Coalition
Our Military Kids
Seasons of My Military Student
 

Upcoming Military Recognition Events

Students will participate in on-campus military-based events such as:

  • Blue Star Welcome Week (September)
  • Veteran's Day  National Veterans and Military Families Month (November)
  • Month of the Military Child (April)
  • Purple Up! Day (April)
  • Memorial Day (May)

Additional community-based military-based events are also available: