Arizona Purple Star School Program
About the Arizona Purple Star School Program
Arizona Purple Star Schools demonstrate a commitment to supporting military-connected students and families through purposeful policies, practices, and programs that ease school transitions and promote academic success.
Military-connected students often experience multiple school moves throughout their K-12 education due to Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders, deployments, and military assignments. Arizona Purple Star Schools recognize the unique challenges associated with military life and create welcoming environments where students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
The Arizona Purple Star School designation recognizes schools that have established sustainable support systems for military-connected students, trained staff, family outreach resources, and student transition programs.
Benefits of Becoming a Purple Star School
Purple Star Schools:
- Improve educational continuity for military-connected students.
- Strengthen family engagement and school partnerships.
- Increase staff awareness of military lifestyle and transition challenges.
- Promote student leadership through peer mentoring opportunities.
- Enhance school culture by recognizing military service and civic responsibility.
- Demonstrate a commitment to supporting Arizona's military and veteran communities.
Additional Responsibilities
The POC will:
- Serve as the primary contact for military-connected students and families.
- Assist families during enrollment, withdrawal, and school transitions.
- Coordinate with School Liaison Program Managers and community partners.
- Maintain military-connected student resource information.
- Promote military student recognition activities.
- Facilitate student mentoring and transition support programs.
- Ensure staff are familiar with MIC3 protections and resources.
Resources for Military Families
Arizona Purple Star Schools are encouraged to maintain a military family webpage containing:
- School Point of Contact information
- School Liaison Program (SLP) contacts
- Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission (MIC3) information
- Enrollment and registration guidance
- Exceptional student services resources
- Extracurricular and athletics information
- Community support organizations
- Military Family Life Counselor (MFLC) resources, where available
- Arizona Department of Education military family resources
Student Transition Support
Arizona Purple Star Schools are required to establish student transition programs that help military-connected students successfully navigate school transitions, build meaningful connections, and become engaged members of their new school community. These programs should provide support for both incoming and departing students while promoting educational continuity and a sense of belonging.
Through the Student-led Peer2Peer Mentorship Program, trained student ambassadors help welcome and support newly enrolled students. While the program is designed to address the unique needs of military-connected students, schools are encouraged to extend transition support to all incoming students, fostering an inclusive school culture and strengthening connections across the entire student body.
Programs may include:
- Student ambassador or peer mentoring opportunities
- New student orientation activities, "Welcoming" process
- Campus tours and introductions to school programs
- Transition checklists and resource guides
- Student leadership and service opportunities
- School and community engagement activities
These efforts help ensure that students are integrated into the school community rather than becoming isolated during periods of transition. Outstanding programs often extend support to other highly mobile student populations, including foster, migrant, refugee, and other newly enrolled students.
Recognition and Designation
Arizona Purple Star Schools demonstrate a commitment to supporting military-connected students and families through policies, practices, and programs that promote successful school transitions, educational continuity, and student belonging.
Arizona Purple Star School Designation
Schools earning the Arizona Purple Star School designation receive:
- Official Arizona Purple Star School recognition
- Listing on the Arizona Department of Education website
- Use of the Arizona Purple Star School logo during the designation period
- Recognition opportunities through ADE and military community partners
The designation is valid for two years, provided annual reporting requirements are met.
Exemplary Arizona Purple Star School Recognition (optional)
Arizona Purple Star Schools demonstrate a commitment to supporting military-connected students and families through purposeful policies, practices, and programs that ease school transitions and promote academic success.
Military-connected students often experience multiple school moves throughout their K-12 education due to Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders, deployments, and military assignments. Arizona Purple Star Schools recognize the unique challenges associated with military life and create welcoming environments where students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
The Arizona Purple Star School designation recognizes schools that have established sustainable support systems for military-connected students, trained staff, family outreach resources, and student transition programs.
Benefits of Becoming a Purple Star School
Purple Star Schools:
- Improve educational continuity for military-connected students.
- Strengthen family engagement and school partnerships.
- Increase staff awareness of military lifestyle and transition challenges.
- Promote student leadership through peer mentoring opportunities.
- Enhance school culture by recognizing military service and civic responsibility.
- Demonstrate a commitment to supporting Arizona's military and veteran communities.
Additional Responsibilities
The POC will:
- Serve as the primary contact for military-connected students and families.
- Assist families during enrollment, withdrawal, and school transitions.
- Coordinate with School Liaison Program Managers and community partners.
- Maintain military-connected student resource information.
- Promote military student recognition activities.
- Facilitate student mentoring and transition support programs.
- Ensure staff are familiar with MIC3 protections and resources.
Resources for Military Families
Arizona Purple Star Schools are encouraged to maintain a military family webpage containing:
- School Point of Contact information
- School Liaison Program (SLP) contacts
- Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission (MIC3) information
- Enrollment and registration guidance
- Exceptional student services resources
- Extracurricular and athletics information
- Community support organizations
- Military Family Life Counselor (MFLC) resources, where available
- Arizona Department of Education military family resources
Student Transition Support
Arizona Purple Star Schools are required to establish student transition programs that help military-connected students successfully navigate school transitions, build meaningful connections, and become engaged members of their new school community. These programs should provide support for both incoming and departing students while promoting educational continuity and a sense of belonging.
Through the Student-led Peer2Peer Mentorship Program, trained student ambassadors help welcome and support newly enrolled students. While the program is designed to address the unique needs of military-connected students, schools are encouraged to extend transition support to all incoming students, fostering an inclusive school culture and strengthening connections across the entire student body.
Programs may include:
- Student ambassador or peer mentoring opportunities
- New student orientation activities, "Welcoming" process
- Campus tours and introductions to school programs
- Transition checklists and resource guides
- Student leadership and service opportunities
- School and community engagement activities
These efforts help ensure that students are integrated into the school community rather than becoming isolated during periods of transition. Outstanding programs often extend support to other highly mobile student populations, including foster, migrant, refugee, and other newly enrolled students.
Recognition and Designation
Arizona Purple Star Schools demonstrate a commitment to supporting military-connected students and families through policies, practices, and programs that promote successful school transitions, educational continuity, and student belonging.
Arizona Purple Star School Designation
Schools earning the Arizona Purple Star School designation receive:
- Official Arizona Purple Star School recognition
- Listing on the Arizona Department of Education website
- Use of the Arizona Purple Star School logo during the designation period
- Recognition opportunities through ADE and military community partners
The designation is valid for two years, provided annual reporting requirements are met.
Exemplary Arizona Purple Star School Recognition (optional)
Schools that exceed statutory requirements and demonstrate implementation of advanced military-supportive practices may earn recognition as an Exemplary Arizona Purple Star School. Exemplary recognition acknowledges schools that have established sustainable, innovative programs that support military-connected students and families beyond minimum program expectations.
Exemplary practices may include:
- Expanded professional development participation
- Enhanced Peer2Peer mentorship programs
- Comprehensive transition and welcome protocols
- Community partnerships supporting military families
- Military recognition and educational activities throughout the school year
- Continuous program improvement through stakeholder feedback and annual reflection
Schools receiving Exemplary recognition will be specially identified on the Arizona Purple Star School directory and recognized as models of excellence in supporting military-connected students and other highly mobile student populations.
Recommended Military Recognition Events
Arizona Purple Star Schools are encouraged to participate in:
- Month of the Military Child (April)
- Purple Up! Day (April)
- Veterans Day (November)
- Month of the Military Family (November)
- Student-led military appreciation projects
- Recognition ceremonies for military-connected students and families
- Pancakes for Vets
- Veteran Home visits
Summary of Requirements
To earn the Arizona Purple Star School (AZPSS) designation, schools must demonstrate a commitment to supporting military-connected students through staff training, student transition support, family engagement, and military recognition activities.
Schools seeking designation must:
-
Provide Professional Development
- Deliver Arizona Purple Star School training to at least 70% of school employees, including administrators.
- Training must address the educational and social-emotional needs of military-connected students.
-
Designate a School Point of Contact (POC)
- Identify a staff member to serve as the school's military student and family liaison.
- Complete all required AZPSS Point of Contact training.
-
Implement Student Transition Supports
- Establish a Student-led Peer2Peer Mentorship Program to help military-connected and newly enrolled students integrate into the school community.
- Maintain procedures that support student transitions and educational continuity.
-
Support Military Families
- Maintain a military family resource webpage.
- Provide information, resources, and points of contact for military-connected students and families.
-
Recognize Military Service
- Conduct at least one annual event that both educates participants about military service and recognizes military members and their families.
-
Demonstrate Ongoing Program Implementation
- Maintain required documentation and program records.
- Submit an annual report to the Arizona Department of Education.
Required Resources
- AZPSS Professional Development Training
- Point of Contact Training
- Student-led Peer2Peer Mentorship Training
- Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)
- Compliance Rubric
- Application and Annual Report Forms
Staff - Activity Scenarios PD Slide Deck for Staff