426 SERVICES
STAVANGER, NORWAY
Non DoD Schools Program (NDSP)
NDSP supports and funds (yearly tuition) education of authorized command-sponsored dependents of military members and Department of Defense (DoD) civilian employees assigned to overseas areas where no DoDEA school is available within the commuting area. The DoDDS-Europe, NDSP has the responsibility to oversee the payment of an education allowance when space-required, tuition-free students must attend local schools where no Department of Defense Dependent School is available. This program is available to authorize command-sponsored dependents of military members and Department of Defense civilian employees assigned to overseas areas in Stavanger, Norway. Please note: NDSP only pays for school-aged, command sponsored children who are five years of age prior to 1 September of the current school year. Be aware, the reception year at BISS does not qualify for payment by NDSP.
The School Liaison Officer is the primary point of contact between the military installation, Department of Defense Dependent Schools (DoDDS), local British schools, Home School families, parents, and the community at large. The School Liaison Office (SLO) connects these different partners to help improve education for American military families in the Stavanger, Norway area.
Parents must register each school-aged child into NDSP before arriving in Stavanger in order to receive full paid tuition funding. Please register by clicking on the link to the right (NDSP- registration). For first-time family enrollments or if adding a new dependent, it is required you register using the NDSP Student Online Registration system.
Special Education or IEP
Children with special needs, speech/learning disabilities, or physical developmental disabilities must be pre-approved for acceptance by the school and medical aid station before arrival. Parents with children with special education needs must contact the 426 ABS School Liaison and Medical.
Education Options
Parents may choose from a variety of education options while living in Stavanger to include:
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- Local Public Schools
- Private International Schools
- Home school
- Boarding School
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It is strongly recommended to research ALL options available to your child and contact the School Liaison Officer EARLY in your PCS with any questions or concerns.
For more information, click the boxes below
Local Norweigan Schools
Education in Norway is mandatory for all children aged six to 16. Education is guaranteed by the Norwegian state and is thus free at public schools and taught only in Norwegian. The school year in Norway runs from late August to mid-June the following year. The Juleferie (Christmas holiday) from mid-December to early January divides the Norwegian school year into two terms. Children also have a vinterferie (winter break) and a Påskeferie (Easter break). The school day usually finishes at 3pm to pick up children from school. Norway has multiple different grading systems, both unique ones and ones that have been based on foreign grading systems. The formerly most common system of grades used at university level was based on a scale running from 1.0 (lowest) through 6.0 (highest).
Primary school (Barneskole, Grades 1–7, ages 6–13)
In the first year of primary school, students spend most of their time playing educational games and learning social structures, the alphabet, basic addition and subtraction, and basic English skills. In Grades 2-7 (Years 3–8 or P3/4-S2/3), they are introduced to math, English, science, religion (focusing not only on Christianity but also on all other religions, their purpose, and their history), aesthetics, and music, complemented by geography, history, and social studies in the fifth grade (Year 6 or P6/7). No official grades are given at this level. However, the teacher often writes a comment, analysis, and sometimes an unofficial grade on tests. Tests are to be taken home and shown to parents. There is also an introductory test to let the teacher know if the student is above average or is in need of some assistance at school.
Lower secondary school (Ungdomsskole, Grades 8-10, ages 13-16)
When the students enter lower secondary school, at age 12 or 13, they begin getting grades for their work. Their grades together with their location in the country will determine whether they get accepted to their high school of choice or not. From eighth grade (Yr 9 or S3/4), students can choose one elective (valgfag). Typical offered subjects are German, French, and Spanish as well as additional English and Norwegian studies. Before the educational reform of August 2006, students could choose a practical elective instead of the languages. Teens born in 1999 and later could once again choose a practical elective upon starting lower secondary school, thus getting the option to choose two electives.
Upper secondary school (Videregående skole, Grades VG1-VG3, ages 16-19)
Upper secondary school (akin to high school) is three years of optional schooling, although recent changes to society (few jobs available for the age group) and law (government required by law of 1994 to offer secondary schooling in one form or another to everyone between the ages of 16 and 18 who submits the application form) have made it largely unavoidable in practice.
** If you decide on enrolling your child into a local Norweigan school, please contact your local Kommune for an application or click link below. (Stavanger, Sola, Hinna, Tananger,etc)
