As directed in SHB 1346, 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:

1. Work jointly with the state military family education liaison of the Interstate Compact Council to serve military families; Serves as the primary liaison between military families and the school district;
2. 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 Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children.

Questions?

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 SHB 1346. 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: Military-Connected Students (Purple Star Schools) – School Resources to Support Military-Connected Students.

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 PennState ClearingHouse 40 module series.
7. Continue with the next training in the series following the directions above.

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

MCEC Online Learning - Military Child Education Coalition® (MCEC®)
1. Once you sign up for the professional development, you will arrive at the ‘Course Catalog’.
2. At ‘Course Catalog’, under categories check ‘professional development (8)’.
3. Work through the eight modules.
4. Afterward each module, you will be prompted to complete the survey. It is only after you have completed each module survey that you will have access to the training certificate.
5. Save all certificates as proof of completion. 

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

Resources can be found here.