| (a) Purpose. In accordance with Texas Education Code
(TEC), §33.909, a campus may qualify to earn the Purple Star
Designation if the campus meets criteria demonstrating supports and
resources for its military-connected student population.
(b) Definitions. The following words and terms, when
used in this section, have the following meanings, unless the context
clearly indicates otherwise.
(1) Military-connected student--A student enrolled
in a school district or an open-enrollment charter school who is a
dependent of a current or former member of the United States military,
Texas National Guard, or reserve force in the United States military
or who was a dependent of a member of the United States military,
Texas National Guard, or reserve force in the United States military
who was killed in the line of duty.
(2) School liaison officer--An individual who works
for the federal or state government and serves as the primary point
of contact for school related matters on military installations. School
liaison officers represent, inform, and assist commanding officers
and military families with school issues; coordinate with local school
systems; and create collaborative partnerships between the military
and schools.
(c) Criteria. To qualify to apply for designation as
a Purple Star Campus, a campus must meet the following requirements.
(1) Campus-based military liaison. A campus must designate
an assigned staff member as a military liaison.
(A) The campus-based military liaison may be:
(i) a campus counselor;
(ii) a teacher;
(iii) a campus administrator such as a principal or
an assistant principal; or
(iv) another campus staff member who supports highly
mobile students.
(B) The campus-based military liaison must support
military-connected students and their families by:
(i) serving as the point of contact and working collaboratively
between military-connected students and their families and the campus;
(ii) maintaining familiarity with enrollment processes,
records transfer, existing community resources, and student supports;
(iii) ensuring military-connected students are identified
and properly coded through the Texas Student Data System Public Education
Information Management System (TSDS PEIMS);
(iv) determining campus-based supports and services
available to military-connected students based on their unique needs,
including their high mobility;
(v) assisting in coordinating campus-based programs
relevant to military-connected students; and
(vi) attending professional development or training
annually to learn and understand topics related to the transition
of military-connected students and their families.
(C) The campus-based military liaison must offer professional
development opportunities for staff members on issues related to military-connected
students. Such issues include, but are not limited to:
(i) military culture;
(ii) deployments and family separations;
(iii) the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity
for Military Children;
(iv) the TSDS PEIMS military student identifier;
(v) mitigating the effects of high mobility;
(vi) issues that address the physical and mental effects
of military service, including post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic
brain injury, and other physical injuries;
(vii) supporting students connected to veterans;
(viii) supporting students with a parent or guardian
in the national guard or reserve; and
(ix) supporting students with a parent or guardian
who has fallen in the line of duty.
(2) Webpage. A campus must create and maintain an easily
accessible webpage that includes the following information for military-connected
students and their families.
(A) Relocation. The military-connected student and
family support webpage must include information regarding relocation
to the campus such as introductions to school environment and processes,
enrollment information in extracurricular activities and clubs, tutoring
opportunities, student code of conduct, and contact information of
pertinent school staff.
(B) Enrollment and registration. The military-connected
student and family support webpage must provide information regarding
the process and requirements for enrollment, including:
(i) a checklist of required documentation needed to
enroll at the campus, which may include information such as copies
of student records, transcripts, and residence documentation; and
(ii) eligibility requirements for free public school
prekindergarten, as required by TEC, §29.153, for a child of
an active duty member of the armed forces, national guard, or reserve
component of the armed forces, who is ordered to active duty by proper
authority.
(C) Academic planning. The military-connected student
and family support webpage must provide a link to information on course
sequences, advanced classes available on campus, and information on
the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children,
as specified in TEC, Chapter 162.
(D) Counseling and support services. The military-connected
student and family support webpage must provide eligibility, application,
and referral information offered specifically to military-connected
families for counseling and support services on or off a military
installation.
(E) Campus-based military liaison. The military-connected
student and family support webpage must provide the contact information
and duties of the campus's designated military liaison.
(3) Campus transition program.
(A) Introductions to the school environment and school
processes by the campus-based military liaison or by campus-based
student leaders or ambassadors, if determined appropriate by the campus-based
military liaison, must be provided to new military-connected students.
(B) Any student leaders or ambassadors should be supported
or sponsored by a campus-based staff member such as:
(i) the campus-based military liaison;
(ii) a campus counselor;
(iii) a teacher;
(iv) a campus administrator such as a principal or
an assistant principal; or
(v) another staff member who supports highly mobile
students.
(C) Any student leaders or ambassadors should participate
in the following activities:
(i) organizing and hosting newcomer social events throughout
the school year that give military-connected students and families
an opportunity to learn about campus culture, processes, and the community;
(ii) facilitating guided tours of the campus, including
the library, nurse's office, counseling office, gym, and cafeteria;
and
(iii) accompanying the new student to lunch the first
week of school.
(4) Initiatives. A campus must offer at least one of
the following initiatives:
(A) a resolution showing support for military-connected
students and families;
(B) participation in the Month of the Military Child
or Military Family Month; or
(C) partnership with a school liaison officer to encourage
and provide opportunities for active duty military members to volunteer
in the local schools, speak at a school assembly, or host a school
field trip.
(d) Application and renewal.
(1) The campus-based military liaison must complete
the Texas Education Agency (TEA) Purple Star Campus Designation application
available on the TEA website.
(2) Campus designation criteria must be met and submitted
in the application.
(3) The Purple Star Campus Designation will be awarded
every school year beginning with the 2020-2021 school year.
(4) Campuses that satisfy the criteria and are awarded
the Purple Star Campus Designation are eligible to recertify the designation
every two school years.
(5) Campuses not selected for award of the Purple Star
Campus Designation will be given an opportunity to appeal the decision
of non-selection through an appeal process explained in the non-selection
notification.
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