Georgia Expands Mental Health Training for Educators Supporting Military-Connected Students

Georgia Expands Mental Health Training for Educators Supporting Military-Connected Students Georgia’s Department of Education will roll out four courses focused on military-connected student well-being. The training launches in July 2026. Schools won’t pay a dime for this program, which comes… Georgia's Department of Education will roll out four courses focused on military-connected student well-being. The training launches in July 2026. Schools won't pay a dime for this program, which comes through a partnership with the Military Child Education Coalition. Schools, districts, and Regional Educational Service Agencies can request four new courses. They are: Practical Approaches to Supporting Military-Connected Students' Wellbeing, Supporting Military-Connected Students During Deployments, When Military Service Ends: Supporting the Children of Veterans, and Responding to Military Children with Exceptional Needs. Around 135,000 military-connected students attend K-12 public schools in the state. That makes Georgia home to the fifth-largest military population across America. Fort Gordon, Fort Stewart, Hunter Army Airfield, Fort Benning, Robins AFB, Moody AFB, and Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay anchor the state's military presence. Thousands of military families cluster around these installations. GaDOE becomes the third state education agency in America to work with MCEC on offering these courses. The Mental Health Awareness Training project has been providing free mental health instruction to Georgia teachers for years. Every school district can access the courses. It doesn't matter if they're near active-duty bases or not. Military-connected students include children of veterans no longer serving, plus those tied to National Guard and Reserve members. Woods praised the Office of Whole Child Supports for developing the courses. He also thanked the Military Child Education Coalition for partnering with the state. Georgia also awards the Military Flagship School Award to schools that create a supportive environment for military students and their families. The department has hired a full-time Military Student and Family Specialist whose job is connecting military families with resources and support systems.