Once all requirements are met, schools can apply for the Purple Star designation. The following outlines the application cycle for new schools during their implementation year and for renewing schools in their third year of the award:

• ​November 1: Application window opens;​​
• December 15: Application window closes; 
• January 15: Application remediation window opens;
• March 1: Application remediation window closes;
• April: Purple Star Awards are announced. 

The award designation is valid for three years, after which schools can opt to submit a renewal application. The renewal cycle is as follows: 

• Implementation Year: Award requirements implemented and application submitted in the fall. Awarded Purple Star designation in the spring. 
• Award Year 1: Purple Star designation status begins and work continues. 
• Award Year 2: Purple Star designation status remains in place and work continues. 
• Award Year 3: Renewal cycle begins. Purple Star designation remains in place and work continues. Renewal application submitted in the fall. Purple Star renewal announced in the spring. 

Required Activities

• Military Family Liaison: The school lists a point of contact for military students and families. This should be a building-level staff member. District staff and/or community members can be listed as additional liaisons. Visit the Military Family Liaison webpage for more information about roles and responsibilities.
• ​Professional Development: The liaison completes professional development on special considerations for military students and families. Specific professional development options for new and renewing schools are listed below. 
• Military Student Identification: All public schools are required to identify students with a parent or guardian currently serving in the military. Purple Star schools are required to share how they identify military-connected students and report the number of students with a parent or guardian serving on active duty, in the National Guard, or the reserves. The military family liaison is responsible for sharing this information with teachers and staff in their building. Visit the Identification of Military-Connected Students webpage for more information on the required and best practices related to this activity.  
• Website: The school maintains a dedicated page on its website that features resources for military families and lists the military family liaison’s contact information. 

New Applicants

New schools must complete the aforementioned required activities as well as the specific requirements for new schools listed below. New applicants can use the Purple Star New School Rubric to assist in preparing their application.

• Professional Development: New liaisons must complete one of the following options: 
  • The Military Children in Ohio’s Schools course available on the Department's learning management system, accessible via the liaison’s 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's eight-part series on the needs of military-connected students, or the course on Purple Star schools in the MCEC Learning Hub. 
• Additional Activities: Each new school needs to complete one additional activity from the following list to be honored with the Purple Star Award: 
  • The military family liaison provides schoolwide professional development 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 has processes in place to identify students with parents or guardians who are veterans, siblings in the military, and/or Gold Star families. Schools also need to host an event for veterans or include veterans, sibling-connected students, or Gold Star students in programs similar to those offered to students from families currently serving in the military. Veterans Day celebrations can be included as part of this activity.
    • The identification of students from veteran families, students with sibling connections, and Gold Star students 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. 
  • The school directly engages and supports military-connected students. 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.  

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. Renewing schools must complete all of the required activities listed above in addition to the specific requirements listed below. Renewing schools can use the Purple Star Renewal Rubric to assist in preparing their application.

• Professional Development: Renewing schools must provide evidence of continuing professional development. This is professional development completed since the introductory professional development completed during the last award application, and can come from any source. Some examples include: 
  • MCEC Learning Hub;  
  • Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness;  
  • Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission; 
  • Purple Star USA National Convening; 
  • Ohio Purple Star Summit; 
  • Ohio Purple Star Roundtables; and 
  • PsychArmor. 
• Student Engagement: 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, siblings serving in the military, and Gold Star students can be included. Schools can meet this renewal requirement by completing one of these activities: 
  • The school directly engages and supports military-connected students. 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.  
• Optional Activities: Since renewing schools must complete a student engagement activity, other additional activities completed in the initial award application are completely optional. Optional activities include:
  • The military family liaison provides schoolwide professional development 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 has processes in place to identify students with parents or guardians who are veterans, siblings in the military, and/or Gold Star families. Schools also need to host an event for veterans or include veterans, sibling-connected students, or Gold Star students in programs similar to those offered to students from families currently serving in the military. Veterans Day celebrations can be included as part of this activity.
    • The identification of students from veteran families, students with sibling connections, and Gold Star students 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.

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