Considerations for supporting Canadian military-connected students in K-12 and higher education

Despite the substantial attention that military, Veteran, and family health research has gained in Canada over the past decade, military-connected students, both in the kindergarten to Grade 12 (K-12) and higher education systems, remain understudied populations within Canada. While American literature provides insight into the educational experiences of military-connected students in these contexts, it is unclear to what extent the American findings are truly representative of the Canadian experience due to current limitations with Canadian data. This article considers two challenges that appear to be organizational obstacles in delivering a fulsome array of supports to military-connected learners. Moving forward, it is imperative to concentrate research efforts on military-connected students, both in the K-12 and higher education contexts, as such research will have rippling effects across academic, educational, and military domains. LAY SUMMARY Within Canada, little is known about the educational experiences of military-connected students in the K-12 and higher education systems. American research has been published and provides insight into the unique challenges that military-connected students can experience in such contexts. Because of the lack of research conducted in Canada to date, it is unclear if American research findings represent the educational experiences of Canadian military-connected students in K-12 and higher education. This article discusses how identification of military-connected students, as well as educator awareness, or lack thereof, are creating organizational challenges in the Canadian context for supporting military-connected students in K-12 and higher education.