Title 21 Education

21-3-134. Purple star schools.

(a) As used in this section, "military connected student" means a student who is a dependent of a current or former member of the uniformed services of the United States including members of the national guard and reserve or who was a dependent of a member of the uniformed services of the United States, including a member of the national guard or reserve, who was killed in the line of duty. (b) The department shall designate a school as a purple star school if the school applies to the department and qualifies as a purple star school under this section. (c) To qualify as a purple star school under this section the school shall: (i) Have a staff member designated as a military liaison who shall: (A) Identify military connected students enrolled at the school; (B) Serve as the point of contact between the school and military connected students and their families or guardians; (C) Assist in developing and coordinating appropriate services and programs relevant to military connected students. (ii) Maintain on the school website an easily accessible web page that includes resources for military connected students and their families or guardians, including information regarding: (A) Relocation to, enrollment at, registration at and transferring records to and from the school; (B) Academic planning, course sequences and advanced classes available at the school; (C) Counseling and other support services available for military connected students enrolled at the campus; and (D) The name and contact information of the military liaison designated by the school under paragraph (i) of this subsection and the liaison's duties. (iii) Maintain a transition program, which may be led by students if appropriate, that assists military connected students in transitioning into the school; (iv) Offer professional development for staff members on issues related to military connected students; (v) Do at least one (1) of the following: (A) Have a resolution adopted by the board of trustees of the school district of the school showing support for military connected students and their families; (B) Provide recognition of the month of the military child or military family month with relevant events hosted by the school; (C) Partner with a local military installation that provides opportunities for active duty military members to volunteer at the school, speak at a school assembly or host a field trip. (d) A school may partner with the school district as necessary to comply with the requirements of this section including providing for a web page on the school district website if the school does not have a website, providing for professional development and the adoption of a resolution as provided in subparagraph (c)(v)(A) of this section. (e) The department shall adopt rules necessary to administer this section.