Military families struggling to make sense or headway with policies or issues in their children's schools may turn to a newly created state agency that promises it operates independent of the public school system.

The Office of the Education Ombudsman (OEO) formed under Washington State's Governor's office to promote equity in education and academic success for all students through high school.  Adie Simmons, OEO director, said OEO works as a mediator to resolve conflicts that can't be resolved between parents and school districts.

"We ensure that the schools take notice and understand the issues," Simmons said.

OEO services include providing information to students, families and communities regarding the school system; helping resolve conflicts; providing policymakers with recommendations to improve the education system; and promoting family and community involvement in education.

For military families, the OEO can supplement or provide another avenue beyond the education liaisons that already exist at installations like Fort Lewis.  Fort Lewis operates a School Liaison Program, instituted in 2001 Army-wide. The program makes it possible for families to fully understand their children's schools before they even arrive at a new duty station. Here's how it works.  When a military family receives orders, they contact their local liaison, who will put them in touch with the liaison at their upcoming duty station. That liaison has a complete database and a personal relationship with all of the schools, on-post and off, at the new installation. The liaison officer can answer questions ranging from transferring credits to special programs â�¨available to the dates of dance team or football tryouts.

The OEO picks up where that program lets off, or intervenes when families can't work through issues at the local level.

"We have direct contact with the superintendents," Simmons said. 

Simmons said she is often surprised that some families receive no response from schools through writing or conversation. 

"We are here to listen," Simmons said.  "We are a third party - we are not part of the Superintendent for Public Instruction - we are 100 percent confidential by law."

Simmons said typical issues arriving at her office focus on bullying, language issues, and special education questions.  She says some parents are insecure talking to their districts because lingo and jargon can be overwhelming.

"We are here to inform parents what all of those terms mean," she added.

Military families facing issues with deployments, credit transfers, state tests, graduation requirements, etc may find the OEO a help as well.

"We've had a couple military families come in already," Simmons said.  The OEO opened 16 months ago.

"We'd like to help more," Simmons said.

To contact to OEO, call (866) 297-2597.  Calls are received between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.  The telephone service translates in 100 languages.  For more information, also click on www.waparentslearn.org.