Joining Forces, Department of Defense, and Department of Education Announce New Actions to Support Military Children with Disabilities: Mindex's Role

We're excited to share some incredible news! Mindex has been highlighted in a recent White House press release for our role in supporting military children with disabilities through a new initiative under Joining Forces, a program originally co-founded in 2011 by First Lady Michelle Obama and then-Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden.

Since returning to the White House as First Lady in 2021, Dr. Jill Biden has continued to champion this important cause, building on the foundation laid nearly a decade earlier—a commitment that will carry on under the current Trump Administration and First Lady Melania Trump. 

This initiative, in collaboration with the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Education (ED), tackles the critical issue of delays in transferring Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) as military families move across school districts. 

The Challenges Military Families Face 

Military families face unique challenges when relocating, especially when it comes to ensuring their children with disabilities receive the education and support they need. One of the most significant obstacles is the transfer of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) between school districts and across state lines. Due to delays in transferring IEPs, military families often report waiting, on average, over 120 days—more than half of the school year—for their children to receive the necessary services at their new school. This gap in services can have a long-term impact on a child’s development and success. For military children, who may relocate as many as six to nine times during their K-12 education, these delays compound with each move, leaving them without essential support when they need it most. 

Our Role in Project Unicorn's Moving with the Mission 

Through our participation in Project Unicorn's Moving with the Mission, spearheaded by InnovateEDU, Mindex is among several education partners working to ensure seamless and secure transfers of special education data for military families. By contributing to this initiative, we are helping to develop the processes and infrastructure needed to make transferring IEPs between school districts more efficient, minimizing the disruption in education for military children. This effort includes piloting data transfers during the 2024-2025 school years, with the goal of making these transfers available to all school systems served by participating organizations by fall 2025. 

Mindex at the White House Event

Photo by Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images

On January 16, 2025, Marc Fiore, CEO of Mindex, attended the White House event hosted by First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, where she officially announced this important initiative. Mindex’s participation underscores our commitment to improving educational opportunities for military families and ensuring that military children receive the critical services they need without delay. 

Marc Fiore, CEO of Mindex, shared, At Mindex, with over 30 years of experience, our mission is to improve student outcomes. As a leading provider of comprehensive K-12 products & services—including SchoolTool, our student management system for New York State schools, Mindex Advanced Analytics™, Mindex ClearTrack™ for special education management, and Mindex MTSS Edge™ for multi-tiered services of support—we deeply understand the vital need for timely and secure data transfers. Ensuring that all students receive the educational support they need without delays is at the core of our work. This initiative is a natural extension of our commitment to enhancing the educational experience for every student, helping them thrive no matter where their journey takes them. We are honored to be part of this effort to ensure military children with disabilities receive the timely support they deserve.” 

Mindex's Dedication to Improving Educational Outcomes 

The work being done through Joining Forces reflects a commitment to addressing the unique needs of military families and improving educational opportunities for military children with disabilities. At Mindex, we are honored to be part of this important initiative and look forward to making a lasting impact for military children and their families. 

Learn More About the Initiative 

Interested in reading the full press release? Click here to learn more about this important initiative.