Sen. Pennycuick Appointed To State Council On The Interstate Compact On Educational Opportunity For Military Children

By Linda Stein, Delaware Valley Journal

January 31, 2023

State Senate President pro tempore Kim Ward appointed Sen.Tracy Pennycuick (R-Bucks/Montgomery) to a four-year term on the state Council on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunities for Military Children. Pennycuick, a military veteran, said she’s honored to have the opportunity to serve.

The purpose of this compact is to reduce and remove educational and emotional barriers imposed on children of active-duty military families, because of the frequent moves and deployment of their parents. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are working together to provide a consistent set of policies that will make getting started in a new school, joining extracurricular activities and meeting graduation requirements as easy as possible for military children.

“Having young children during the time of my service has given me firsthand experience in this matter,” Pennycuick said. “The transition for my family was never easy. It is an honor to now bring my personal experiences and those of my children, to the table, and ensure stability and a smooth transition within these children’s lives, because they too are making a sacrifice.”

This appointment coincides with Sen. Pennycuick’s recently introduced Senate Bill 209, which would extend the Interstate Compact to children of Pennsylvania National Guard and Reservist members.

Pennycuick grew up near Boston. An Army combat veteran, she initially enlisted as a medic. She earned a degree in business and a commission in the U.S. Army. She served as a Blackhawk pilot, including three combat tours in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Desert Storm where she was awarded the bronze star.

Pennycuick retired as a lieutenant colonel after 26 years of service and settled with her family in Harleysville. She was a platoon leader, operations officer, company commander, aviation group safety officer, brigade human resources officer, executive officer, Department of Defense efficiency expert, and foreign liaison to the U.K. Ministry of Defence.

Before she was elected to the Senate in November, Pennycuick served as a state representative.

Pennsylvania joined the Interstate Compact in 2012 (Act 6). The goal of this compact is to provide as much consistency as possible with other states relative to school policies and procedures, while honoring the current laws that administer public education in our state.

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