Missionary: Childcare Education
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Effective Date:
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November 2025
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Focus Group:
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Missionaries
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Guidelines:
Missionary: Childcare Education – Access to Quality Primary & Secondary Education Tuition Reimbursement Policy
Global Outreach understands that sometimes access to quality primary and secondary education in places outside of the United States may be difficult to find or nonexistent. Global Outreach reimburses expenses for children’s education from Kindergarten through Secondary School or High School Grade12 equivalent, or from age 2 to age 18, depending on local practice.
In countries where the local school system is inappropriate or in an unfamiliar language, International/ American/ British/ Canadian School may be an appropriate alternative. Educational expenses supported by Global Outreach include the following:
a) School registration fee
b) Tuition fee
c) School transportation costs
Educational expenses that are not supported by Global Outreach and as a result are considered salary expenses are:
a) Summer school
b) Summer camp
c) School field trip
d) Dual enrollment in college while attending High School
In cases where no quality school exists and the only option is homeschooling, Global Outreach will reimburse for expenses that are allowed by law in the US for homeschooling. These are:
a) Traditional curriculum and other supplemental materials as may be appropriate (textbooks and other pertinent instructional materials) for math, science, language arts, social studies, and other subjects on a grade/age-appropriate basis.
b) Expendable supplies which are normally provided free of charge in U.S. public schools.
c) Tutorial or independent study costs to ensure that a child receives age/grade-appropriate instruction. The head of agency or designee could reimburse the tutorial of, for example, a 17- year-old "senior" taking calculus or physics.
d) Fees charged for access to libraries, recreation facilities, schools for education-related
curriculum activities, or participation on school athletic or extracurricular teams which are
normally free of charge in U.S. public schools. For example, required research for projects,
group physical education or group music activities, participation on school athletic team or debate team above what is charged students attending the school.
e) Fees for curriculum-related on-line internet services such as study programs, library services and distance learning.
f) Rental of curriculum-related equipment such as microscopes or very large band instruments (such as the Sousaphone) which would normally be provided by U.S. public schools.
g) Required testing materials by either the formal home study course or other authorized program.
h) Advisory teaching service affiliated with formal recognized home study course.
i) Tuition charges, shipping costs, lesson postage, on-line internet and facsimile charges
associated with formal recognized home study course or another authorized program.
These do not include:
a) Purchase or rental of items which have broader use than the course being studied (such as computer hardware, band instruments except as noted above)
b) Parental training in home study/private instruction
c) Any form of compensation to the parent such as childcare or supervisory costs
d) Travel and transportation costs at post or away from post
e) Personal telephone, internet, satellite, or other available communication subscription fees
f) Fees for museums, cultural events, or performances that would normally be paid by parents of children in the U.S.
There are two methods to request reimbursement for allowable education costs:
1. The missionary may pay for the tuition or homeschooling costs upfront and then submit the application, invoice, and proof of payment for reimbursement (within 60-day IRS guidelines for expense reimbursement).
2. The missionary may complete any necessary applications, forms and submit copies along with an invoice for Global Outreach to pay directly on the missionary’s behalf. Once submitted, Global Outreach will review the request and process in its weekly batch of payments.
Global Outreach understands that sometimes access to quality primary and secondary education in places outside of the United States may be difficult to find or nonexistent. Global Outreach reimburses expenses for children’s education from Kindergarten through Secondary School or High School Grade12 equivalent, or from age 2 to age 18, depending on local practice.
In countries where the local school system is inappropriate or in an unfamiliar language, International/ American/ British/ Canadian School may be an appropriate alternative. Educational expenses supported by Global Outreach include the following:
a) School registration fee
b) Tuition fee
c) School transportation costs
Educational expenses that are not supported by Global Outreach and as a result are considered salary expenses are:
a) Summer school
b) Summer camp
c) School field trip
d) Dual enrollment in college while attending High School
In cases where no quality school exists and the only option is homeschooling, Global Outreach will reimburse for expenses that are allowed by law in the US for homeschooling. These are:
a) Traditional curriculum and other supplemental materials as may be appropriate (textbooks and other pertinent instructional materials) for math, science, language arts, social studies, and other subjects on a grade/age-appropriate basis.
b) Expendable supplies which are normally provided free of charge in U.S. public schools.
c) Tutorial or independent study costs to ensure that a child receives age/grade-appropriate instruction. The head of agency or designee could reimburse the tutorial of, for example, a 17- year-old "senior" taking calculus or physics.
d) Fees charged for access to libraries, recreation facilities, schools for education-related
curriculum activities, or participation on school athletic or extracurricular teams which are
normally free of charge in U.S. public schools. For example, required research for projects,
group physical education or group music activities, participation on school athletic team or debate team above what is charged students attending the school.
e) Fees for curriculum-related on-line internet services such as study programs, library services and distance learning.
f) Rental of curriculum-related equipment such as microscopes or very large band instruments (such as the Sousaphone) which would normally be provided by U.S. public schools.
g) Required testing materials by either the formal home study course or other authorized program.
h) Advisory teaching service affiliated with formal recognized home study course.
i) Tuition charges, shipping costs, lesson postage, on-line internet and facsimile charges
associated with formal recognized home study course or another authorized program.
These do not include:
a) Purchase or rental of items which have broader use than the course being studied (such as computer hardware, band instruments except as noted above)
b) Parental training in home study/private instruction
c) Any form of compensation to the parent such as childcare or supervisory costs
d) Travel and transportation costs at post or away from post
e) Personal telephone, internet, satellite, or other available communication subscription fees
f) Fees for museums, cultural events, or performances that would normally be paid by parents of children in the U.S.
There are two methods to request reimbursement for allowable education costs:
1. The missionary may pay for the tuition or homeschooling costs upfront and then submit the application, invoice, and proof of payment for reimbursement (within 60-day IRS guidelines for expense reimbursement).
2. The missionary may complete any necessary applications, forms and submit copies along with an invoice for Global Outreach to pay directly on the missionary’s behalf. Once submitted, Global Outreach will review the request and process in its weekly batch of payments.