State Superintendent of Public Instruction Paolo DeMaria, on December 7, announced that 57 Ohio schools received the Purple Star designation for their commitment to serving military-connected students and their families. Included in the latest round of honorees is Westerville Central High School. Westerville North earned the distinction last year.
“On this National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, we’re honored to recognize these schools for creating inclusive and supportive communities for their military families,” said Superintendent DeMaria. “Purple Star schools provide our military children and families with the resources they need to be successful. We’re thankful for their service and honored to continue the important work of improving services for Ohio’s military families.”
The Purple Star designation for military-friendly schools recognizes schools that show a major commitment to serving students and families connected to our nation’s armed forces. The Purple Star Advisory Board, formed by the Ohio departments of Education, Higher Education, Veterans Services and Adjutant General, helps decide eligibility.
A Purple Star school will receive the designation for two years. After two years, the school must reapply. The Purple Star emblem was selected because purple symbolizes support for military families. There are 34,000 children in Ohio with one or more parents serving in the military.
The Ohio Department of Education is accepting Purple Star Award applications for Round 5 until April 5, 2019. Award recipients will be announced by May 3. The application is available here.