Purple Star Designation

Purple Star Class of 2023 will be announced in April 2023 during the Month of the Military Child

Logo for Purple Star AwardThe Purple Star Award recognizes schools that show a major commitment to students and families connected to our nation’s military. Schools that earn the award will receive a special Purple Star recognition to display on site.

A school will be honored with the Purple Star Award if it completes all the required activities, plus one optional activity, listed below. The Purple Star Advisory Board helps decide a school’s eligibility for the award.
 

Join us for 2023 Purple Star Webinar Series!​

The Department invites all educators interested in learning more about supporting students and families connected to the military to attend webinars hosted in the months of February and March. Webinars are free to attend, attendees must register separately for each session.

Upcoming Webinars:

  • Military Child Education Coalition and Ohio Military Kids:
    Tara Gleason from the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) will share information and resources their organization has to offer. Mark Sherer of the Ohio National Guard Youth Program will provide information about Ohio Military Kids. | Mar. 22 at 3:30 p.m.
  • Military Student Identification:
    This session will focus on best practices for identifying and reporting military-connected students. State data on military-connected students will be presented at this session. This session is led by Jason Scragg of the Ohio Department of Education. | Mar. 29 at 3:30 p.m.
The Ohio Department of Education is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws. To request a reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact Aleshia McNutt, ADA coordinator, at ADAaccommodation@education.ohio.gov or (614) 387-2200 (voice) as soon as possible and not less than 72 hours before the webinar.

Celebrating 5 Years of Purple Star

Current Honorees

Class of 2022 Purple Star schools
 

Past Honorees

View a full list of all Purple Star schools. 

Purple Star in the News

 

Application

The application window to become a Class of 2024 Purple Star school will open on Nov. 1, 2023. Interested schools can prepare to apply for the award when the next application window opens and begin activities supporting students in military families immediately.

Access the Purple Star Application Webinar for more information.

On the application, schools are asked to share the following:

  • The web address of the school's military families resource page
  • Professional development activities completed by the school military family liaison
  • Activities completed by your school that demonstrate the school's ongoing commitment to supporting military-connected youth and their families
  • The school's process to identify and inform staff of military-connected students
  • The number of military-connected students currently enrolled
  • How staff connects with military-connected students
  • The school's plans and strategies for continuing to support military-connected students

If you have any questions, please email PurpleStar@education.ohio.gov and include your school name in the subject line. 

How to Qualify

A school will be honored with the Purple Star Award if it completes all the required activities, plus one optional activity, listed below.

Required Activities

  • The school must have a staff point-of-contact for military students and families who serves as the primary liaison between them and the school.
    • The liaison completes professional development on special considerations for military students and families under federal law. The liaison can complete any professional development they chose to fulfill this requirement. A variety of online learning options are available:
    • The liaison identifies and informs teachers of the military-connected students in their classrooms and the special considerations military families and students should receive. Visit Identification of Military-Connected Students for more information on the required and best practices related to this activity. 
  • The school maintains a dedicated page on its website featuring resources for military families.

Optional Activities

  • The school provides professional development for staff on special considerations for military students and families.
  • The school hosts a military recognition event that demonstrates a supportive culture. Schools are encouraged to consider hosting a military recognition event in addition to their Veteran’s Day celebrations for this activity.
  • The school implements social and emotional development programs with the military child in mind. Examples of these programs include a monthly club for military-connected students, a student ambassador program that supports welcoming new students to the school and regular check-ins between the liaison and identified students.
  • The school celebrates the Month of the Military Child (April) with events or programming honoring military-connected students.

See resources for military families.

Last Modified: 3/22/2023 2:54:06 PM