Purple Star Designation

Purple Star Schools

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.

Purple Star Application now open

The Purple Star application window is open and will close on December 15, 2024. New schools can use the New School Application link to apply. New applicants can preview the application. Renewal applications were emailed to liaisons and principals on November 1. Please contact purplestar@education.ohio.gov with any questions.  

Ohio's Purple Star Schools


How to Qualify

A school will be honored with the Purple Star Award if it completes all the required activities, plus one additional 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. Visit the Military Family Liaison web page 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 Department's learning management system (access by logging into your OH|ID account). Under "My Apps," select "Learning Management System (LMS)" and click "Open App." Then search for the course in the course catalog. 
      • 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: 
    • 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

In addition to the requirements listed above, each school needs to complete at least one additional activity from this list to be honored with the Purple Star Award.  
  • The school provides professional development for all staff on special considerations for military students and families.
  • The school hosts a military recognition event that demonstrates a supportive culture. The hosting of a military recognition event is in addition to Veterans Day celebrations for this activity. Hosting a Veterans Day celebration on its own does not meet this requirement. 
  • 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 has processes in place to identify students with military connections beyond what is required under federal law. Schools also need to host an event for veterans or include veteran and sibling-connected students in student programs similar to those offered to students from families currently serving in the military. This may include Veterans Day celebrations. 

    • The expansion of the identification of students with military connections would include parents or guardians who are veterans and those with siblings in the military. Only students with parents or guardians currently serving on active duty, in the reserves, or the National Guard should be reported under the Military Student Identifier Element in the Education Management Information System (EMIS). The identification of students from veteran families and with sibling connections should be maintained locally and not reported in EMIS. 

  • The school celebrates the Month of the Military Child (April) with events or programming honoring military-connected students. Month of the Military Child events need to be completed prior to applying to be considered for the award. 

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

Application

Once all requirements are met, schools can apply for the Purple Star designation. The award designation is renewed every three years. The application cycle is as follows: 

  • ​Application window opens Nov. 1;​​
  • Application window closes Dec. 15
  • Awardees are announced each April, the Month of the Military Child.

Applicants will be contacted after the application window closes if there is an issue with their application that requires remediation. 

New Applicants

Interested schools can prepare to apply for the award when the next application window opens and begin activities supporting students in military families immediately. The new school application will be posted to this web page when the application window opens.

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; and
  • The school's plans and strategies to support military-connected students.

Renewal Applicants

Schools need to renew their Purple Star designation every three years. Renewal applications will be emailed to the school's liaison on Nov. 1 of their renewal year. Email PurpleStar@education.ohio.gov to update your liaison's contact information. Schools renewing their award will provide the same information on their application as listed above except: ​​​

  • A liaison renewing their application needs to demonstrate continuing professional development. If a new liaison has been assigned since the last award, they will complete the new liaison professional development requirements. 
  • Renewing schools are required to demonstrate how they engage and directly support military-connected students. This is optional for the initial application but required for renewal. Students with connections to veterans and siblings serving in the military can be included. Schools can meet this renewal requirement by completing one of these activities:  

    • 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.  

This requirement will be phased in starting with the Class of 2026 (schools that renew in the 2025-2026 school year). 

  • 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. 

Last Modified: 11/1/2024 8:57:56 AM