Educators and military-connected individuals gathered on Friday for the annual Purple Star Award ceremony at the North Carolina National Guard Base in Raleigh. Nearly 600 schools across the state were designated by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) during the ceremony as “military-friendly.”
“North Carolina is home to a large population of active duty, guard, reserve, and veteran armed services members, and the state’s public schools reflect that,” DPI’s website says. “In 2019, The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction launched the Purple Star Award Designation initiative to recognize the state’s strong military presence and its support for military families.”
Examples of practices that make schools eligible for the Purple Star award include having a military resource page on their website and a transition program for inbound and outbound families. Awarding-winning schools must have a staff member liaison for military families, and districts must also have a central office employee who serves as a point person for those liaisons. Finally, there must also be annual professional development addressing special considerations for military students and families…