OP here - thanks for all of the thinking-through. This would be manifestly temporary (no change of residence, no home sales) but would potentially involve both parents.

OP did say "our jobs" - plural.

In theory you could lie about it and not tell anyone and go into virtual but it really doesn't make sense for three months and that's assuming you can getting it. Best for one parent to stay back. No need for the entire family to go for a few months.

Anonymous wrote:Only have the working parent go.

This

Anonymous wrote:Are you keeping your house in MoCo? That's the first big question. If no, I can't imagine there will be any exception available. If yes – and you can show it is a temporary posting with a defined end date, you may have a way forward.

I don’t think the house maters. Owning a place does not entitle your kids to schooling, you need residency. Plus, how do you prove you aren’t going to sell it?

Only have the working parent go.

If your kids are in middle school, pull them to homeschool overseas for the three months. There is no consequence to their learning and they can learn a ton in a new country for a few weeks. Use the added flexibility to go to museums/travel, etc. In high school, it would work to homeschool, but getting your high school to accept classes when they return is more difficult.

ANy chance it could be scheduled over summer break?

Both parents jobs would move? Are their local relatives the kids could stay with for a few months?

I do think if you are not selling your home and were willing to do VA for the year it could work.

Are you keeping your house in MoCo? That's the first big question. If no, I can't imagine there will be any exception available. If yes – and you can show it is a temporary posting with a defined end date, you may have a way forward.

Anonymous wrote:You’re required to unenroll your children when you move. You would either have to file homeschooling paperwork or enroll them in the schools where you’ll be living.

There's a little thing called an exception. Call MCPS and ask. No one here can give you a concrete answer.

Anonymous wrote:I think you answered your own question. It’s MCPS after all

Why would you expect to keep kids who have moved away enrolled?
OP, I think you need to homeschool or enroll them in school where you are living and then back in MCPS upon return.

You’re required to unenroll your children when you move. You would either have to file homeschooling paperwork or enroll them in the schools where you’ll be living.

I think you answered your own question. It’s MCPS after all

There is a reasonable chance that our jobs could require us to relocate outside the country for a period of about 3 months, although we would have significant advance notice. Does MCPS have any policies, procedures, or programs that might help deal with something like this? (DCs are in MS.) Would Virtual Academy be a temporary option, or do we just have to try to homeschool and then jump back in? The older DCs get, the more difficult that prospect sounds to me, but maybe I am too much of a pessimist? TIA for any advice, especially from folks who might have traversed something similar.