H.R. 5987House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Total Force Family Education Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated November 23, 2025 at 7:55 PM UTC

The Total Force Family Education Act amends the U.S. Code to guarantee that children of certain reserve‑component service members on active duty can attend Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools at the service member’s new permanent duty station. It ensures automatic enrollment when space is available and provides a wait‑list option when it is not, helping families maintain consistent education during relocations.

Key Provisions

Adds a new subsection to the law governing DoDEA schools that says a dependent of a reserve‑component service member who is on active duty and moving to a new permanent station can enroll in the DoDEA school at that installation.
If the school has enough space, the dependent is automatically enrolled at the request of the service member; if not, the dependent is placed on a wait‑list.
The rule applies only to reserve‑component members who are performing active service and have an accompanied permanent change‑of‑station order.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

November 7, 2025

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

November 7, 2025

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

November 7, 2025

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued November 7, 2025

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 5987

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 7, 2025

Mr. Vindman (for himself and Mr. Bacon) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

A BILL

To amend title 10, United States Code, to ensure equitable access to Department of Defense Education Activity schools for dependents of certain members of the reserve components performing active service.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Total Force Family Education Act.

Ensuring access to DODEA schools for certain members of the reserve components

Section 2164 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(n)

Eligibility of dependents of certain members of the reserve components

(1)

A dependent of a member described in paragraph (2) shall be eligible to attend a school established under this section at the military installation that is the permanent station of such member and such dependent shall automatically be granted enrollment at such school at the request of such member if there is sufficient space in the school to accommodate the dependent. In the event there is not sufficient space available at such school at the time the dependent seeks to enroll, the dependent shall be placed on a wait-list for enrollment in the school.

(2)

A member described in this paragraph is a member—

(A)

of a reserve component;

(B)

performing active service; and

(C)

pursuant to an order for accompanied permanent change of station.