The agency is currently calling for Purple Star Campus Designation applications; a webinar for interested schools will be held May 4

AUSTIN, Texas – April 29, 2021 – The Texas Education Agency recognizes the many sacrifices our military-connected students and their families make for each of our freedoms. As April comes to a close, TEA wishes to extend a special thank you for your service and commitment. More than 144,000 military-connected students attended Texas schools during the 2020 fall semester. Military-connected students attend school systems in every region of Texas. During April’s Month of the Military Child, TEA has reminded Texas’s 1,200-plus school systems that we are now accepting applications for the Purple Star Campus Designation. This designation is a special honor created by the 86th Texas Legislature which recognizes Texas independent school districts and open enrollment charter schools that show their support and commitment to meeting the unique needs of military-connected students and their families. Military-connected students often experience school transitions every few years, with the average military-connected student moving 6-9 times during his or her K-12 educational experience.

In the program’s first year, 116 schools representing 25 school systems across 10 Education Service Center (ESC) regions applied for and received the designation. TEA looks forward to seeing additional campuses apply for and earn this special designation for the upcoming 2021-22 school year, which will be the second full year of this award recognition. Applications are accepted on an annual basis. Any Texas school can become a Purple Star Campus, regardless of the size of its military-connected student population. Districts are encouraged to support campuses and help them meet the criteria for Purple Star Campus Designation status. 

“The Texas Education Agency is committed to providing the best quality educational experience for all children, including for students from our extraordinary military families,” said Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath. “We recognize the unique challenges military-connected students often face when transitioning to new schools; that’s why we maximize the availability of high-quality resources for them. I encourage all our schools to provide a school experience that fully supports the unique needs of our military-connected students.”

TEA began accepting designation applications for next school on Monday, April 5, and will continue to do so through Tuesday, June 1, 2021. TEA is hosting an information session on Tuesday, May 4, at 11:00 a.m. CST for schools interested in learning more about the application process. Interested schools can register here. 

Notification of award outcomes for the 2021-22 school year will be announced by TEA in August. For more information, please see the To the Administrator Addressed Letter. And to apply, visit TEA’s Purple Star Campus Designation.

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