The Purple Star Award application process is now open for school districts that want to be recognized for their work with the troops.
Schools and school systems can apply to be a Purple Star Award winner until February 3, 2025. The goal of the program is to honor schools that support and do things that are good for the military.
The Defense Manpower Data Center says that North Carolina has the fourth most military troops of any state in the US. Its schools mirror that, with more than 100,000 students with ties to the military, according to the N.C. Department of Public Instruction.
Schools must send in information about what they did for military families during the 2024–25 school year in order to be considered. The following are activities and other standards for schools:
- Military students and their families need to be able to talk to and get advice from a staff person. This person could be a teacher, school social worker, school counselor, or someone else on staff. Someone from the central office needs to be assigned to help the person who was chosen.
- Teachers of the applicant must get professional development every year on how to help military families and kids in special ways. An agenda, presentation materials, and list of attendees are sent with the application as proof of the training.
- Military family tools need to have their own page on the school’s website. Some schools may also have a page that links to a district website with a list of tools.
- The school needs to have a transition program to help military kids and their families who are coming and going. Transition classes help students who are starting school or dropping out. Families are also given lists to help them through the process.
- Military Child of the Year nominations, recognition, a support project, a staff common read book, a school welcome video, or a picture slideshow are some of the other activities that schools must do before they can be named.
- If districts have events that happen after the application date, they can also include proof of those events with their application.
If all of the schools in a district meet the requirements for the Purple Star Award, the district gets extra praise. During the 2023–2024 school year, the following were given awards:
- Carteret County Public Schools
- Craven County Schools
- Cumberland County Schools
- Currituck County Schools
- Harnett County Schools
- Hoke County Schools
- Jones County Schools
- Moore County Schools
- Pender County Schools
- Polk County Schools
- Onslow County Schools
- Scotland County Schools
- Wayne County Public Schools
- Whiteville City Schools
“Understanding that military-connected students and families transition on average six to nine times in a military child’s academic career, our school system takes pride in providing resources for them to meet their needs and providing every flexibility possible to ensure a smooth transition,” Cumberland County Schools superintendent Marvin Connelly Jr. said. “Our Purple Star District status confirms that Cumberland County Schools is doing the right and necessary work to ensure that military-connected families have a seamless experience and that our district is military-friendly.”
Here is the entire list of 2023-24 winners.
The Purple Star Award was given to 10 districts and four charter schools in 2019, totaling 132 schools. With 26 districts and nine charters, the number of schools nearly tripled last year.
Andrew Smith, DPI deputy superintendent of innovation, said the increase of recipients is impressive.
This expanding number of schools shows the dedication of our educators and administrators across the state. At the 2024 awards ceremony, Smith said North Carolina has a rich tradition of supporting our military.
Before submitting Qualtrics data, schools should examine the worksheet application. DPI requested inquiries to State Military Liaison Consultant Howard Lattimore. Days with office hours:
- Oct. 15, 2024
- Nov. 13, 2024
- Dec. 12, 2024
- Jan. 7, 2025
- Jan. 23, 2025