GAO urges DOD to tighten screening and teacher input in DODEA schools
The Department of Defense must address gaps in literacy and math support for roughly 60,000 K-12 students in DODEA schools following the GAO report.
The Government Accountability Office released a report identifying shortfalls in how the Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) screens and supports K-12 students with literacy and math deficits. The study found that in school year 2024-2025, about 10 percent of the roughly 60,000 DODEA students received strategic instruction, while 5 percent were identified with a specific learning disability (SLD). The number of students with SLDs rose 29 percent from school years 2018-2019 through 2024-2025.
GAO visited 11 schools in five districts that serve 63 percent of DODEA students with SLDs. Staff at nine of those schools said they needed more or better screening tools; current tools do not assess foundational phonics skills and are not available for all grades. In July 2026, DODEA officials said they procured universal screening tools for all grades and plan to begin administering them in late 2026.
The report also highlighted deficiencies in professional learning. Thirty-two of 44 strategic instruction and special education teachers rated their training as "bad" or "very bad," and teachers across all 11 schools reported no mechanism to provide input on needed training. GAO issued eight recommendations, including improving screening tools, analyzing referral rejections, reducing special-education evaluation delays, and ensuring teacher feedback informs future professional learning. The Department of Defense agreed with five recommendations and partially agreed with three.
The GAO's findings and recommendations are directed to the Secretary of Defense, who must ensure the DODEA Director implements the actions. The agency's response will be tracked for future updates.
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