WASHINGTON – Children of servicemembers who died while on active duty would be eligible for enrollment in U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) schools under legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate.

U.S. Sens. Kevin Cramer, R-ND, Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., and Mike Rounds, R-SD, recently introduced the Gold Star Children Education Act. The act provides for enrollment in DODEA schools on a tuition-free, space-available basis.

The DODEA manages 160 schools globally, providing K-12 education to the children of active- duty servicemembers residing on military installations. Military families frequently cite the availability of schools on installations as positively impacting their quality of life, but Gold Star children are not eligible to enroll in the schools after the death of a parent who served.

The Gold Star Children Education Act is endorsed by Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, Blue Star Families and Hire Heroes USA.

“America is the land of the free because of the brave servicemembers who sacrificed their lives in defense of our freedoms,” Cramer said. “After losing a parent who served, Gold Star children should not be further disrupted by losing their access to DOD schools. I joined Senators Ossoff and Rounds in introducing the Gold Star Children Education Act to preserve the educational options for families of fallen servicemembers.”