ADE Commissioner Jacob Oliva
Jacob Oliva
Secretary | Read Bio 
Department of Education

Arkansas Department of Education Division of Elementary and Secondary Education Update to the Arkansas Purple Star School Program

Memo Information

Memo Number
COM-23-098
Memo Date
6/7/2023
Memo Type
Informational
Unit
Public School Accountability
Regulatory Authority
ACA § 6-15-1702(a), ACA § 6-28-116(2)(B)(ii), and ACA § 6-28-204(b)(4)
Response Required
NO
Attention
Assistant Principal; Assistant Superintendent; Communications Manager / Director; District Coordinators (ALE; Homeless; ESOL; SDFS & Foster); Parent Involvement Coordinators/Facilitators; Principals; Superintendents

Primary Contact Information

Memo Text

The Arkansas Council for Military Children announces a change to the Arkansas Purple Star School Program. The changes will go into effect on July 1, 2023. 

Applications will still be accepted under the current program through June 30, 2023.  Please see the Purple Star Schools webpage.

Applications under the new program will be accepted beginning July 1, 2023.  Applications under the new program are due by October 1, 2023.  Beginning in 2024, applications will be due August 1 each year.

Schools and school districts that have already achieved Purple Star status will be grandfathered in.  There is no requirement to reapply.  However, beginning in the 2023-2024 school year identified Purple Star Schools and Districts will be required to address issues for military families in their building-level or district-level engagement plans.

 

Parameters for the new program are as follows:

 

HOW TO QUALIFY (SCHOOL) 

Schools must fulfill all the required activities, plus one optional activity, listed below. All requirements must be completed before the application is submitted. 

Required Activities 

  1. The school must designate a School Military Liaison (SML) to serve as a point of contact for military-connected students and families. The SML serves as the primary liaison between them and the school. The SML could be a counselor, administrator, teacher or another staff member. 
  2. The SML completes training on special considerations for military-connected students and families similar to training provided for District Military Education Coordinators under ACA 6-4-309. The SML may contact the Military and Veterans Liaison at the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education to arrange for the professional development. 
  3. The SML identifies and informs teachers of the military-connected students in their classrooms and the special considerations military-connected students and families should receive; and 
  4. The school keeps a dedicated page on its website featuring resources for military families. If the school district keeps this page, then the school may link to it in lieu of creating its own page. 
  5. The school appoints a military service member (Active, Reserve, or National Guard), the spouse of a military service member, or a representative of the military community to serve on its school family engagement committee. 
  6. The school addresses military family issues in its school family engagement plan. 

Optional Activities 

  1. The SML coordinates professional development on federally identified special considerations for military-connected students and families in the areas of a) records and enrollment, b) placement and attendance, c) eligibility, and d) graduation; or 
  2. The SML coordinates awareness training for military-connected family members; or 
  3. The school hosts a military recognition event to demonstrate a military-friendly culture at the school.

HOW TO QUALIFY (DISTRICT) 

A district must complete all the following requirements. All requirements must be completed before the application is submitted. 

  1. All schools within the district must have achieved Purple Star School status. 
  2. The district school board passes a resolution of the school or district’s support for military-connected students and families. 
  3. The school must designate a District Military Education Coordinator (DMEC) to serve as a point of contact for military-connected students and families. The DMEC serves as the primary liaison between them and the school. The DMEC could be a counselor, administrator, teacher or another staff member. 
  4. The DMEC completes training on special considerations for military-connected students and families. 
  5. The district appoints a military service member, the spouse of a military service member, or a representative of the military community to serve on its district family engagement committee. 
  6. The district addresses military family issues in its district family and community engagement plan. 

HOW TO APPLY 

Application is made online on the Arkansas Department of Education Division of Elementary and Secondary Education website using the Purple Star School Application or Purple Star School District Application.  Applications will be vetted and then voted on by the Arkansas Council for Military Children during the next meeting of the Council. 

RECOGNITION

Upon approval by the Arkansas Council for Military Children, the school or school district will have the privilege to use the Purple Star School or Purple Star School District graphic on its website, letterhead, official school or school district documents, signage on campus, and on any banners the school or district may purchase (e.g., banners for school clubs, teams, etc.)

 

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