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Ohio Department of Education
Special Award for
Ohio’s Military-Friendly Schools Announced
Editor Note: Special thanks goes to Greenville High School for its NJROTC program.
At an event celebrating the Month of the Military Child at the National
Museum of the U.S. Air Force, Superintendent of Public Instruction
Paolo DeMaria announced the creation of the Purple Star Award for
military-friendly schools. Ohio now will distinguish schools across the
state that show a commitment to serving military-connected students and
families.
“It’s our honor to support these students and their families and
provide them with the resources they need to be successful,” said Paolo
DeMaria, superintendent of public instruction. “We look forward to an
ongoing partnership with Ohio’s schools to improve services for our
military families.”
“Ohio is proud to be called home by nearly 900,000 veterans and members
of the military – the sixth-largest veteran population in the country,”
said John Carey, chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education.
“Having our schools committed to serving those students and families
with military connections is just one way that we can say ‘thank you’
and give back to the veterans and service members who have already
given so much for their country and our freedom.”
“School communities have a direct impact on military kids’ success in
the classroom and the community, said Department of Veterans Services
Director Col. Chip Tansill. “The Purple Star Award is an excellent way
to recognize schools with best practices for supporting Ohio's youngest
military family heroes.”
"We are grateful for the Ohio Department of Education's continued
commitment to our military families. The Purple Star distinction lets
our military-connected students know they are not alone, that there are
educators who understand the unique challenges faced by students in a
military family and they're committed to the students' success," said
Maj. Gen. Mark E. Bartman, Ohio adjutant general.
Gov. John Kasich directed Ohio’s state agencies to help improve the
lives of service members and their families. During the last year,
groups of veterans, educators, family members, students, service
members and others came together to identify ways schools can better
serve military students and families. The Purple Star Award is a direct
result of these conversations.
The Purple Star Advisory Board, formed by the Ohio departments of
Education, Higher Education, Veterans Services and the Adjutant
General, will help determine a school’s eligibility for the award. To
receive the honor, schools must apply and meet specific criteria,
including providing a staff liaison for military families. The liaison
must complete professional development on special considerations
provided to military students and families under federal law. The
complete criteria for the award is available here.
A Purple Star school will receive the designation for two years. After
two years, the school must reapply. The Purple Star emblem was selected
because purple symbolizes support for military families.
There are 34,000 children in Ohio with one or more parents serving in
the military. This number includes the children of active duty, reserve
and Ohio National Guard members. Some of these children will attend six
to nine different schools throughout their K-12 educational
experiences. Besides changing schools often, a student also can be
affected by a parent’s deployment. Schools can help students and
families face these issues by connecting them with the resources they
need.
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