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. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated. Terms Defined. “Department” means the Maryland State Department of Education. “Military-connected student” means a student who is a dependent of: A current member of: The United States military serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard on active duty; The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps; The Public Health Service Commissioned Corps; The Maryland National Guard; The National Guard of any other State; or A reserve force of the United States military; or A member of a military or reserve force described in §B(2)(a) of this regulation who was killed in the line of duty. To be eligible for designation as a Purple Star School, a public school shall: Designate a staff member as a military liaison, whose duties include: Identifying military-connected students who are newly enrolled or soon to be enrolled at the school; Serving as the point of contact between the school and the newly enrolled or soon to be enrolled military-connected students and their families; Determining appropriate school services available to newly enrolled or soon to be enrolled military-connected students; Assisting in coordinating school programs for newly enrolled or soon to be enrolled military-connected students; Providing information, resources, and professional development to school staff on the needs of military-connected students and their families; and Generally aiding with a military-connected student’s transition to a new school; Establish on the school’s website an easily accessible webpage that includes resources for military-connected students and their families, including information regarding: Relocation to, enrollment at, registration at, and transferring records to the school; 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; Academic planning, course sequences, advanced classes, and graduation requirements; Special education and related services; and Counseling and other support services available for military-connected students transitioning into the school; 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: Facilitating guided tours of the campus; Organizing an orientation to familiarize the new student with school information; and If requested, accompanying the student throughout the campus during the first week of school during school hours; and Offer professional development to school staff on issues related to military-connected students transferring to new schools. 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. 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. The Department will release the Purple Star School application on December 1 of each year, beginning with the 2023—2024 school year. 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. A public school that fails to receive the Purple Star School designation is eligible to reapply for the designation the following year. 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. 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. Education Article, §§2-205 and 7-129, Annotated Code of Maryland, Ch. 361, Acts of 2018 Effective date: March 20, 2023 (50:5 Md. R. 182) Regulation .02B amended effective March 3, 2025 (52:4 Md. R. 219)