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. Visit the Military Family Liaison webpage for roles and responsibilities. The liaison can complete any professional development they choose to fulfill this requirement. A variety of online learning options are available.
  • New liaisons need to complete one of the following options:
    • The Military Children in Ohio’s Schools course available on the ODE learning management system (access by logging into your OH|ID account).
    • The Military Child Education Coalition offers virtual learning opportunities for education professionals.
  • Liaisons renewing their Purple Star designation need to provide evidence of continuing professional development. This can come from any source. Some examples include: 
    • Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness; 
    • Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission;
    • Purple Star USA National Convening;
    • Ohio Purple Star Roundtables;
    • The Ohio Department of Education's "Supporting Military-Connected Students" webinar series; and
    • PsychArmor.
  • 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 and lists contact information of the liaison.

Additional 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, lunch groups and regular check-ins between the liaison and identified students.
• The school implements a peer-to-peer transition program that trains student ambassadors to provide tours and engage in activities with all students that are transitioning in or out of the school or when a service member deploys. 
• The school celebrates the Month of the Military Child (April) with events or programming honoring military-connected students.

For more information about activities, visit the Military Family Liaison webpage.

Application