Chapter 10. Purple Star Schools Program
Regulation .01 Purpose.LinkCopy Citation
The purpose of this action is to implement Education Article, §7-129, Annotated Code of Maryland, which establishes a Purple Star Schools Program to recognize public schools that provide strong services and support for military-connected students and their families when, as a result of military service, a military-connected student transfers schools.
Regulation .02 Definitions.LinkCopy Citation
A.
In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.
B.
Terms Defined.
(1)
“Department” means the Maryland State Department of Education.
(2)
“Military-connected student” means a student who is a dependent of:
(a)
A current member of:
(i)
The United States military serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard on active duty;
(ii)
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps;
(iii)
The Public Health Service Commissioned Corps;
(iv)
The Maryland National Guard;
(v)
The National Guard of any other State; or
(vi)
A reserve force of the United States military; or
(b)
A member of a military or reserve force described in §B(2)(a) of this regulation who was killed in the line of duty.
Regulation .03 Criteria.LinkCopy Citation
A.
To be eligible for designation as a Purple Star School, a public school shall:
(1)
Designate a staff member as a military liaison, whose duties include:
(a)
Identifying military-connected students who are newly enrolled or soon to be enrolled at the school;
(b)
Serving as the point of contact between the school and the newly enrolled or soon to be enrolled military-connected students and their families;
(c)
Determining appropriate school services available to newly enrolled or soon to be enrolled military-connected students;
(d)
Assisting in coordinating school programs for newly enrolled or soon to be enrolled military-connected students;
(e)
Providing information, resources, and professional development to school staff on the needs of military-connected students and their families; and
(f)
Generally aiding with a military-connected student’s transition to a new school;
(2)
Establish on the school’s website an easily accessible webpage that includes resources for military-connected students and their families, including information regarding:
(a)
Relocation to, enrollment at, registration at, and transferring records to the school;
(b)
Preparation for a move from a student’s current school to the school at which the student is newly enrolled or is soon to be enrolled;
(c)
Academic planning, course sequences, advanced classes, and graduation requirements;
(d)
Special education and related services; and
(e)
Counseling and other support services available for military-connected students transitioning into the school;
(3)
Maintain a transition program led by students at the school, whenever appropriate, and overseen by the designated military liaison that assists military-connected students enrolled at the school by:
(a)
Facilitating guided tours of the campus;
(b)
Organizing an orientation to familiarize the new student with school information; and
(c)
If requested, accompanying the student throughout the campus during the first week of school during school hours; and
(4)
Offer professional development to school staff on issues related to military-connected students transferring to new schools.
B.
A public school may partner with a county board to fulfill the criteria described in §A of this regulation to qualify as a Purple Star School.
Regulation .04 Application and Renewal.LinkCopy Citation
A.
To be considered for designation as a Purple Star School, a public school’s military liaison shall complete an application available on the Department’s website.
B.
The Department will release the Purple Star School application on December 1 of each year, beginning with the 2023—2024 school year.
C.
A public school that receives the Purple Star School designation shall hold the designation for a period of 2 school years and be eligible to reapply for the designation in the final year of the 2-year period.
D.
A public school that fails to receive the Purple Star School designation is eligible to reapply for the designation the following year.
Regulation .05 Selection Process.LinkCopy Citation
A.
The Department shall identify a panel of stakeholders to review Purple Star School applications based on the criteria described in Regulation .03 of this chapter.
B.
The Department shall issue its decision on a Purple Star School application no later than the end of the school year in the local school system where the applicant school is located.
Chapter annotations
Authority: Education Article, §§2-205 and 7-129, Annotated Code of Maryland, Ch. 361, Acts of 2018
History: Effective date: March 20, 2023 (50:5 Md. R. 182)
History: Regulation .02B amended effective March 3, 2025 (52:4 Md. R. 219)