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On Oct. 11, 2022, the Kansas State Board of Education voted to approve the Kansas Purple Star School recognition program.
The program is designed to help schools respond to the educational challenges military-connected children face during their transition to a new school and to keep them on track to be college, workforce and life-ready.
Launched as a grassroots initiative in Ohio in 2017, there are now active or developing Purple Star initiatives in 33 states.
The Purple Star program is a ground-up initiative with no central governing body. As such, each school district may use their discretion to enact, design and administer its own program.
To qualify, schools and districts in Kansas must meet the following requirements:
Component
Function
Recommendations
Designating a staff point of contact (POC) for military students and families.
* Schoolwide activities
POCs serve as the primary link between the school and military-connected families, helping students navigate the transition into and out of the school and connecting them to resources and information on an ongoing basis.
The best POCs:
Are trained in the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children.
Have passion for and knowledge about the military lifestyle.
Have time to commit to the position.
Are accessible to families 12 months of the year.
Establishing and maintaining a dedicated webpage with resources for military families.
* Districtwide activities
Dedicated webpages signal military friendliness to incoming families, centralize critical information about enrollment and school life, and provide families with links to relevant resources and supports.
Solicit family feedback to determine which resources are most relevant for inclusion.
Set routines that prompt regular updates to the page.
Leverage and link to social media channels on your page.
See MCEC report for details on resources.
Enacting a student transition program.
New student transition programs help incoming students acclimate to their new campus and community, spurring ongoing connections in the school.
Keep programming simple and empower students to guide activities.
Train student ambassadors.
Encourage ongoing relationships between students.
Find ways to get parents involved.
Providing professional development for staff members.
* Optional under districtwide activities.
Professional development for all staff helps familiarize administrators and faculty with the Compact, cultivates awareness of and empathy for military-connected students, and equips staff to support families and students.
Train all staff and faculty annually, especially if there is high turnover at the school
Simulate the challenges of high mobility with interactive activities.
Customize training content for the military populations in your areas.
Hosting military recognition events.
* Military support activities
Events honor and increase awareness of military-connected students, families, and staff and help families integrate into their new communities.
Use various modalities, pairing larger spectacles with more low-key activities
Recognize all members of the community - not only active-duty personnel, but also reserve personnel, veterans, and military-connected students and spouses.
School board resolution
Publicize school support for military students and families.
Include a copy of the resolution and date of approval with school district application.
For further recommendations on how to implement a robust Purple Star program in your school district, visit the KSDE webpage: Military Families (ksde.org).
The Purple Star program is anchored by two parallel goals:
Application process:
By Feb. 1, schools and districts may apply for designation by submitting to the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) an application that demonstrates their fulfillment of the program requirements. The Kansas Military Children Education Council (KMCEC) will review all school district applications and recommend those meeting the criteria to the Kansas State Board of Education for approval at their March meeting. In April, all schools that earn the award are certified and publicly recognized by the State Board. Schools will maintain their status for three years. At the end of year three, schools must reapply to remain recognized.
Timeline:
October – Application available for Purple Star School Designation (fillable PDF). Provide examples of your military support activities.
Feb. 1 – All applications are due. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
March – The Kansas State Board of Education will receive recommendations.
April – Schools receiving the award will be announced.
Resources to apply for the Purple Star School Designation:
Visit the KSDE website: Military Families (ksde.org).
If you have questions, contact Deputy Commissioner Dr. Craig Neuenswander via email at cneuenswander@ksde.org or by phone at 785-296-3871.
In this edition | Feature Story | Assessments and Accountability | Reporting and Operations Standards and Instruction | Student Health and Nutrition | Upcoming Events, Trainings and Recognition
Questions about this page contact:
Denise Kahler (785) 296-4876 dkahler@ksde.org
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