Nationwide, the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) estimates that there are four million children whose parents have served our country since 9/11. The vast majority of children in veteran and military families are being educated in civilian public schools. These families and students are resilient, proud, and idealistic, but many have also borne the burdens of this long and intense military conflict. The entire family serves when there is a war.

Veterans are returning to large, urban areas, looking for jobs, housing and schools that are sensitive to the challenges facing their families and the impact that multiple deployments and school transitions have had on their children. A survey conducted last year by the Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans and Military Families at the University of Southern California (USC) showed that each year, about 12,000 former service members are settling in Los Angeles County, which, with 325,000 veterans, has the largest veteran population of any metropolitan area in the country.

The city of Los Angeles has dedicated itself to providing post-9/11 veterans with the employment, housing, healthcare and other services they need to make a smooth transition into civilian life--and that includes focusing on the needs of their children.

It is critical to know where veteran- and military-connected students are attending school so educators can provide services.

Read more in Huffington Post.