12 On Your Side Investigates: Military family says Richmond County transfer left student in limbo

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Military families are used to moving.

Those moves can be especially hard on the kids — who have to start over at new schools, under new requirements, with credits that do not always transfer cleanly.

One military family says the safety net meant to protect students during those moves did not catch the child in their care.

A high-achieving student at his fourth high school

Lucas is 16 years old.

The Academy of Richmond County is already his fourth high school.

He’s the kind of student schools usually brag about.

Lucas says his weighted GPA is 4.8, so when his family moved to Georgia under military orders, his grades were not the problem.

He says his credits were.

Records provided to 12 On Your Side show Lucas had already earned high marks in advanced coursework, including Honors Chemistry B and Honors World History B.

But when he transferred into Academy of Richmond County mid-year, Lucas says the district still required him to take “Part A” portions of those subjects.

“It kind of felt unfair, I guess, because I’ve been trying to get ahead since even before high school,” Lucas said. “And it’s like, just because I’m moving here, I’m getting pushed back a bit.”

The safety net for military kids

Lucas’s aunt and guardian, Kari Urdi, says that is exactly what the Military Interstate Compact is supposed to prevent.

The compact is meant to help military-connected students transition between school systems when families move under military orders.

Urdi says when her family took custody of Lucas, she made him a promise: moving would not hold him back.

To her, that promise is what the Military Interstate Compact is supposed to protect, but Georgia’s Military Compact commissioner saw the law differently.

In a January email reviewed by 12 On Your Side, Georgia MIC3 State Commissioner Curtis Jones told the family Richmond County could require Lucas to take the missing Part A credits because the compact does not authorize credit for courses a student did not complete.

Jones wrote that Article V of the compact allows flexibility for course placement, but “not to grant credit for courses not completed.”

He also wrote that because Lucas did not complete Part A and earn the corresponding 0.5 credit, the receiving school “may require the student to take ‘Part A’ to meet graduation requirements.”

‘Dead time’ in the school day

Lucas says while adults debated what credits should count, part of his school day became dead time.

“I was sitting in a lab and I didn’t have anything to do for three hours,” Lucas said. “So like three of my class periods were pretty much wasted.”

Lucas says there was an adult in the room, but not coursework for the classes he needed.

Urdi reached out for help early.

In a Jan. 9 email to the national director of the Military Compact, Urdi wrote Lucas had “three gap periods” in his schedule.

By February, Academy of Richmond County Principal Travis Wiggins wrote there was “no option” for Lucas to opt out of Part A World History and Chemistry.

Wiggins also wrote Lucas had completed the World History coursework, but the final exam would not be until May.

A schedule concern becomes a safety concern

Then, there was the schedule itself.

A screenshot provided by the family appears to show Lucas double-booked during third period — Chemistry 1A in Room 614 and World History A in Room 504 — both from 10:10 to 11:04.

Urdi says that was more than a schedule problem.

She saw it as a safety problem.

“I received notifications every single day that he had unexcused absences or tardies for this ghost schedule that he was in,” Urdi said. “He would be unaccounted for if there was anything to happen.”

A growing paper trail

Documents provided to 12 On Your Side show Urdi filed appeals, sent certified notices, and reached out to state, federal, accreditation, and Military Compact officials.

“I’ve reached out and made complaints and filed cases in every avenue recommended to me,” Urdi said.

However, when Urdi went to the state, the Georgia Department of Education’s general counsel wrote that the State Board had “limited jurisdiction.”

Urdi says that created a loop.

“Their reasoning was because I wasn’t granted a hearing. They can’t do anything,” Urdi said.

To Urdi, that was the system failure — not just the credit decision, but the fact that no one seemed responsible for what happened to Lucas while everyone debated it.

The district had not held a hearing, and the state told her it could not step in without one, leaving Lucas stuck in the middle.

District says it was found in compliance

By April, Wiggins wrote Lucas was in good academic standing and making progress, but Lucas says that is not the point.

“It’s a bummer because I can’t get my junior year back,” Lucas said. “I can’t get the time back. And it’s already over.”

Richmond County School System declined an on-camera interview, citing federal student privacy laws.

The district sent the following statement to 12 On Your Side:

“Hi Meredith,

Thank you for reaching out and for providing the Richmond County School System (RCSS) an opportunity to respond.

Because this matter involves a student’s educational records and academic placement, the school system is limited in what information it can provide or discuss publicly pursuant to federal student privacy laws.

In this case, RCSS has worked collaboratively with multiple agencies and educational partners to review processes related to military-connected student transitions and academic placement. That collaboration has included ongoing consultation with the Georgia Department of Education, the Georgia Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission, Cognia (our accrediting agency), school counselors, and school system leadership.

Through that review process, the school system’s actions and response were found to be in compliance with applicable policies and requirements. RCSS closely follows state, federal, and military guidelines outlined in the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children to support military-connected students and families during enrollment and course placement transitions.

The school system has also demonstrated an ongoing commitment to military-connected students and families through partnerships, transition supports, and recognitions from the Georgia Department of Education, including multiple schools earning Georgia Military Flagship School designation over recent years.

More broadly, RCSS remains committed to working directly with families, school staff, and partner agencies to ensure students receive appropriate academic support and access to educational opportunities during the transfer and enrollment process.

Because this involves an individual student matter, the school system will not be providing additional comment or participating in an on-camera interview.

Regards,

RCSS Comms"

The district’s statement did not directly answer questions from 12 On Your Side about whether Lucas was left without assigned coursework, whether he was double-booked, or whether a local board hearing was held.

What happens next?

12 On Your Side also reached out to the Military Interstate Compact Commission asking for clarification on its role in enforcing the compact.

We’ve also filed open-records requests seeking Richmond County’s policies for military-connected transfer students and records showing federal funding connected to military students.

For military families, every move comes with orders.

The question now is who makes sure their children do not pay the price.