The Department of Defense's system of overseas elementary and secondary schools, called Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS), established to provide educational services to dependents of department personnel, is described by the school's' director. DoDDS includes 273 schools in 20 countries serving almost 140,000 students. The document presents a statement of DoDDS philosophy, an overview of the purpose of the system, and a brief historical chronology of DoDDS development. The authors next cover the organization, functions, and personnel of the DoDDS Education Division and describe its curriculum development plan and inservice teacher training program. Programs offered by the Curriculum Branch are listed, in arts and humanities, career education, foreign languages, health and physical education, math, science, social studies, and other areas. Further programs, provided by the Supplementary Education Branch, include compensatory and special education, media, computer education, and pupil personnel services. Activities of the Evaluation/Accreditation Branch are noted, as are support services for budgeting, supplies, and teacher recruitment. Maps and charts show the DoDDS organizational structure and the location of the schools. A directory of DoDDS schools and an index of DoDDS issuances (or publications) are attached. (RW)