Program Budget Decision (PBD) results in DoDDS Pacific budget reductions. The Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) allocated congressional and departmental reductions of $47.8 million to its FY 2003 program. Historically, DoDDS Pacific has received annual reductions to its operating budget through this process. The current PBD is significantly greater than in past years. FY 2002 initial cuts were nearly $9 million; FY 2003 cuts are $15 million, which is the highest in DoDDS Pacific history. Following a meeting with senior leaders at DoDEA, the DoDDS Pacific Director, Dr. Nancy Bresell, met with the Fiscal Division chief and district superintendents to develop a strategy for absorbing the shortfall while protecting educational programs and student activities. While recently notified that $4.9 million of this budget cut is being restored due to OSD’s reconsideration of foreign currency reductions, the resulting adjustment to PBD reductions has impacted operations. DoDDS Pacific centrally managed accounts will absorb most of the shortfall, and district office budgets will be reduced minimally.

Principals attend annual conference to discuss standards. From November 18-22, 2002, all DoD Pacific principals gathered in Tokyo for the annual principals’ conference entitled, Leading a Standards-based School: Literacy at the Center. The conference highlighted research based practices and skills that promote literacy and how using a standards-based curriculum can improve student achievement. As school leaders, principals will be in the forefront of the DoDDS Pacific standards-based reform initiative.

Pacific Area Advisory Council meets. The Director, DoDDS Pacific, met with Area Advisory Council members on November 15, 2002. Agenda topics included the recruitment of new teachers and the transfer program, eligibility requirements for student involvement in extracurricular activities, the alignment of DoDDS Pacific initiatives with the No Child Left Behind Act, an overview of new assessments for SY 2002-2003, an explanation of enrollment eligibility codes and requirements, an update on military construction projects, and an overview of an Alaska high school transition laboratory.

Pacific Theater Advisory Council (PTEC) visited Japan District schools. From November 12-14, 2002, the PTEC visited seven schools in Japan District including Arnn, Lanham, Yokota East, and Yokota West Elementary Schools, Yokota Middle School, and Yokota and Zama High Schools. The PTEC is the advisory council for US Pacific Command and reviews and acts on recommendations from component commands, the DoDDS Pacific Area Advisory Council and District Advisory Councils. During their visit, Council members met with commanders, parents, students, the School Advisory Committee (SAC) and the parent-teacher organization.

Dependents Education Council (DEC) reviews education/support services issues. The November 6, 2002, DEC included discussions of the teacher transfer program changes, summer school legislation, and the high school POM initiative. Pacific representatives included US Pacific Command; Commander, Pacific Air Forces; Assistant Division Commander (Support), 25th Infantry Division; USMC, Commanding General, Marine Corps Base, Camp Butler, Japan; Commanding General, 19th Theater Support Command; and Executive Director, Shore Installations Management, CINCPACFLT N46A. Dr. Nancy Bresell, DoDDS Pacific Director, was in attendance.

Policy Memorandum on Home Schooling recently issued. On November 6, 2002, the DoDEA Director issued a policy memorandum outlining DoDEA guidance on home schooling, stating that “it is DoDEA policy neither to encourage nor discourage DoD sponsors from home schooling their minor dependents.” It further stated that a host nation, state, commonwealth, or territory where a DoD sponsor is stationed may impose legal requirement on home schooling practices. DoDEA encourages DoD sponsors who wish to home school their dependents to communicate their desire to their commanders to determine if there are any command policies or other rules ensuring that home schooling practices meet local requirements. DoDEA schools will provide and offer home schooled DoD dependents classes and/or special education services, consistent with existing regulations and policy. Dependents of sponsors electing to take a single class or more must complete a registration form and comply with other registry procedures and requirements. Additional information is available from the DoDEA web site at: http://www.odedodea.edu/ foia/iod/pdf/02OD002.pdf.

Parent guides for Pre-K through Grade 3 available in elementary schools. Parent guides are now available at all DoDDS Pacific elementary schools. They are designed to inform parents of DoDEA’s standards for student learning in the four major curriculum areas: English/language arts, math, social studies and science. The expectations for student learning are aligned with the current DoDEA curriculum. The guides can also be obtained from the DoDEA web site at http://www.odedodea. edu/curriculum/.