What is this STG?

Six years ago Sigonella Naval Air Station in Sicily had a homeschool population of 60 regular community center attendees and an unknown number of non-attenders. The combined school population was about 1000. Some of the attendees were registered with the local DoDDS school. If the homeschooler is registered with DoDDS the school receives from congress funding for the additional student head counted.

It is surmised that the total homeschool population of DoDDS-E is at least between 5 and 8% of total school population. This number is presumed to be extremely conservative due to 3 factors:

1. At $19,700 for a high schooler, DoDDS is among the most expensive secondary schools - in or out of the United States; which would tend to drive away contractors and multinational employees, (which only have limited Base Captain permitted access in any case). Presumably many of the contractors and multinational employees have limited options and plenty of time to homeschool. Their numbers remain an unassessed mystery and whether they are in compliance with local laws is doubtful.

2. The lack of availability of private and/or parochial school alternatives in the overseas area would tend to push up the number of homeschoolers well above the state-side averages.

3. Chronically high un-employment for dependents in the over-seas area makes homeschooling an attractive activity for caring parents.

Generally the homeschoolers are ignored by both the military school and the local Naval authorities. 6 or 8 years ago one of the previous base captains looked into shutting them down but abandoned the effort after a short investigation of the laws and effort involved in doing so.

Gaeta American School is an "about to close" school that has fallen victim to Navy consolidation of functions. The base is now a satellite of Naples and the school population has diminished to 38 students and 10 school personnel. The plight of the Gaeta American School is mirrored by many other DoDDS schools in Europe that are downsizing as a result of the military's evolution to an expeditionary force structure.

Sigonella To Gaeta - Proposed pilot sites for the STG Homeschool Association.

 

Updated March 28, 2007