51Â鶹

Supporting Military-Connected Students

In Washington state, over 32,000 students identify as being part of a military family. These students often face unique challenges, such as frequent relocations and the deployment of family members. Their resilience is remarkable, and their experiences deserve thoughtful support and recognition.

The Purple Star District Award Program

To address the needs of military-connected students, Washington state enacted the Purple Star District Award Program into law on July 23, 2023. Starting in 2024, school districts can earn the Washington state Purple Star Award ¨C issued every two years ¨C by meeting specific criteria that demonstrate a commitment to supporting military families. Districts must reapply to maintain this designation.

The Purple Star Award recognizes school districts that go above and beyond to provide academic and social-emotional support for military-connected students who may move as often as every 2¨C3 years due to changes in their parent¡¯s duty station. 

• Purple Star FAQ Resources 

National Support Through MCEC

The Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) is the national advocate for the Purple Star Program and works to ensure that children of service members receive consistent, high-quality educational experiences as they transition between schools.

Purple Star Award Criteria for School Districts

As directed in ,

To be considered for the designation, a school district must maintain a dedicated page on its website featuring resources for military families. The school district must also have a staff point of contact for military students and families that:

Works jointly with the state military family education liaison of the to serve military families; Serves as the primary liaison between military families and the school district;
To receive the designation, a school district must also complete one or more of the following optional activities:

• Provide professional development for additional staff on special considerations for military students and families;
• Pass a resolution publicizing the school district's support for military children and families; or
• Host a military recognition event that demonstrates a military-friendly culture.
• Completes professional development on special considerations for military students and families under relevant state and federal law; and
• Identifies and informs teachers of military-connected students in their classrooms and the special considerations military families and students should receive under the .

Questions
Contact Christine Hurley or Dixie Grunenfelder at purplestar@k12.wa.us.

Purple Star District Awards

• 2025 Purple Star Awards
• 2024 Purple Star Awards

Acceptable Professional Development for Purple Star Award Applicants

Districts applying for the first time for the Purple Star Award

Districts applying for the first time must complete training through the PennState Clearing House for Military Family Readiness: 

This training will meet the professional development requirement as established in . There are 40 modules, 10-15 minutes each, that can easily be completed over ~5-8 business days if you focus on 6-8 modules per day.

It can be accessed here: .

For ease of access, once you open the link above:

1. Scroll down the webpage until you see module 1, Readiness to Support Military-Connected Students.
2. Click ¡®view¡¯ on the right of module 1 and, in the same tab, it will open to Learning Modules ¡®Military-Connected Families¡¯.
3. Scroll down to ¡®Open Module¡¯ and click to open.
4. A new webpage tab will open. Click ¡®Start Training¡¯ to begin.
5. After you complete each training, save the training certificate at the end of each module. You will need these to show you have completed this training series
6. When each module is complete, return to the previous webpage tab, Learning Modules ¡®Military-Connected Families¡¯, and click the back arrow. This will bring you back to the Penn State ClearingHouse 40 module series.
7. Continue with the next training in the series following the directions above.

Districts reapplying for the Purple Star Award ¨C Those who have previously held the designation and are reapplying must complete the MCEC training below:

• Once on the MCEC Learning Hub, scroll down to the bottom of the ¡°Professional Development¡± section and click on ¡°Visit the Learning Hub¡±.
• Move through the prompts to sign up.
• When that is complete, you will arrive at the course catalogue.
• There are two categories on top of the page, ¡°Professional Development¡± and ¡°Students¡±. Enter the Professional Development modules.
• There are eight modules you will need to complete.
• At the end of each module, you will be prompted to complete a survey. It is only after you have completed each module survey that you will have access to the training certificate.
• You will receive a certificate for five of the eight modules.
  • Save all of the certificates.

MCEC PD Modules	Certificate (y/n)
Gone is Gone: Supporting Military-Connected Children	Yes
New: Purple Star Schools Exemplary Practices	Yes
Practical approaches to supporting military-connected students	Yes
We Serve Too: National Guard and Reserve Children	Yes
When Military Service Ends: Supporting the Children of	Yes
Mini Lesson for All Ages: Social Connection	No
Mini Lesson for All Ages: Social Connection as a Protective	No
Mini Lesson for Elementary School Students: Social	No

Purple Star Virtual Two-Day Trainings

The Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) offers Purple Star Schools virtual two-day trainings scheduled throughout the year. The  website provides more information. Request information on upcoming training dates to the email contact on their webpage.

Resources for Military-Connected Families, Students, Districts & Schools

Military Resources and Links

Data Collection

School districts are required to collect data regarding ethnicity from active-duty military families and active reserves from all branches, as well as the Washington National Guard, to meet the unique needs of military connected students.

Please refer to the for the data.

Interstate Compact for Military Children

The compact seeks to make transition easier for children of military families so they are afforded the same opportunities for educational success as other children, and not penalized or delayed in achieving their educational goals. Applicable to transfers among public school systems, it addresses key education issues encountered by military families in the areas of eligibility, enrollment, placement, and graduation.

Educators

• 
  This is the official website of the Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission. The goal of the interstate compact is to remove barriers to educational success imposed on children of military families because of frequent moves and deployment of their parents. The compact seeks to make the transition easier for children of military families, so they are afforded the same opportunities for educational success as other children and not penalized or delayed in achieving their educational goals. Applicable to transfers among public schools, it addresses key education issues encountered by military families in the areas of enrollment, eligibility, placement, and graduation.
• 
  MCEC provides training and leadership to ensure quality, inclusive educational experiences for all military children.
• 
  Our online training program is for mentors working with military students. Find information specific to using the of school-based mentoring for military students.

Parents/Students

• Military OneSource¡¯s military-trained consultants are also available 24/7 to help with and  questions. To schedule an appointment, call 800-342-9647, set up a Military, or view .
• 
  Tutor.com for U.S. Military Families (Tutor.com/military), funded by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CMGA), is a program that allows eligible students in grades kindergarten through college to connect to a live tutor online at any time (24/7/361) for one©\to©\one help with homework, studying, test prep and more, at no cost.

Parents of Students with Special Needs

The Interstate Compact also covers children with special needs changing schools

• Special education: If the covers your child, your child has the right to comparable services provided by the most current , or IEP.
• Reevaluation: The new school system may reevaluate your child¡¯s eligibility for special education services to determine a new IEP.

In addition to provisions in the Interstate Compact, Military OneSource offers these educational resources for families with special needs:

• : The directory provides the information you need to make informed decisions about education and early intervention services.
• : Your local installation EFMP Family Support staff can help you identify and access programs and services related to education, outreach, local schools, and early intervention services.
• : Military OneSource¡¯s military-trained consultants are also available 24/7 to help with  questions. To schedule an appointment, call 800-342-9647, set up a , or view .