Maryland's Purple Star Schools program was established by Education Article 7-129 and approved by the Maryland General Assembly in 2022. This prestigious recognition program honors schools that go above and beyond to support military-connected students and their families. If your school is dedicated to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for these students, please consider applying for this esteemed designation in the next application cycle.
About Maryland's Purple Star Schools Program
In February 2023, the Maryland State Board of Education adopted
COMAR 13A.06.10 Purple Star Schools Program. To attain Purple Star designation, schools must meet, at a minimum, the four criteria outlined in COMAR 13A.06.10. They are:
Military Liaison: A staff member should be designated as military liaison, serving as the point of contact for newly enrolled military-connected students and their families. This person is also tasked with coordinating support programs for this population, connecting the students to needed resources, and generally aiding in their transition into the school. The school must have a process in place to identify and track military-connected students, including those with parents or guardians currently serving on active duty, in the reserves, or in the National Guard.
Digital Resources: The school’s website must have an easily accessible page of resources for military-connected students and their families. This page should include information that facilitates a smooth transition to the school, including the process for enrolling in the school and transferring records, preparing for moving schools, academic requirements, and available support services.
Peer-Led Transition Program: Whenever possible, schools should offer a student-led program tasked with orienting the student to both the physical and academic environments of the school through activities such as campus tours and a military-connected student orientation. If requested, this program should also offer military-connected students the opportunity to have a student leader accompany them throughout campus during their first week of enrollment.
Staff Training: School staff should receive appropriate training and professional development aimed at fostering an understanding of the unique challenges faced by military-connected students so that they may provide appropriate support. These training opportunities will be coordinated by the school’s designated military liaison.
Schools seeking Purple Star designation should be prepared to demonstrate that they have taken supplementary measures to provide top-notch support to military-connected students in addition to meeting the criteria outlined above.
Purple Star School Designees, 2023-2024 School Year
The following schools have earned Purple Star School designation for their outstanding efforts to support military-connected students. The schools will maintain this designation for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years.
Bellows Springs Elementary School, Howard County Public Schools
Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary School, St. Mary’s County Public Schools
Kent Island High School, Queen Anne’s County Public Schools
MacArthur Middle School, Anne Arundel County Public Schools
Meade High School, Anne Arundel County Public Schools
Mt. Harmony Elementary School, Calvert County Public Schools
Queen Anne’s County High School, Queen Anne’s County Public Schools
West Meade Early Education Center, Anne Arundel County Public Schools
Application Details
Application Timeline: MSDE will release the Purple Star Schools application in late summer/early fall 2024.
Who Can Submit: All public schools in Maryland are eligible to apply for the Purple Star School designation.
How to Apply: The link to the Purple Star Schools application will be posted here once the application cycle begins. Applicants will be asked to submit an online questionnaire via Qualtrics and supporting documentation via email to
DOSS.MSDE@maryland.gov.
Why Apply?
Recognition: Becoming a Purple Star School is a mark of distinction. It indicates that the school is dedicated to serving military-connected students and their families, which can boost the school's reputation and community engagement.
Impact: By creating a supportive environment for military-connected students, Purple Star Schools positively impact their educational experience and well-being, fostering a sense of belonging and stability. This is essential to furthering Maryland’s goal of providing an excellent and equitable education for all students.
Application Guidance and Support
To aid schools in preparing competitive applications, MSDE will hold technical assistance sessions virtually prior to the application deadline. Additionally, MSDE will hold virtual office hours to answer questions and provide guidance and support in completing the application. The dates and times of these sessions will be shared closer to the release of next year's application.
For questions about or assistance with the application process, please contact Dr. Kaitlin Quigley, Coordinator of Special Projects, at
kaitlin.quigley@maryland.gov or 410-767-0476. For questions regarding the Purple Star Schools Program, please contact Mary Gable, Acting Deputy State Superintendent, at
mary.gable@maryland.gov or 410-767-0472.
Thank you for your commitment to Maryland's military-connected students, and MSDE looks forward to celebrating your school's success as a Purple Star School!
Contact:
Kaitlin Quigley, Ph.D.
Coordinator of Special Projects, Division of Student Support, Academic Enrichment, and Educational Policy
Office: (410) 767-0476
kaitlin.quigley@maryland.gov