(a) Each public school with twenty (20) or more children of military families enrolled annually by October 1 shall:(1) Adopt the Purple Star School Program developed by the Arkansas Council for Military Children and approved by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education; and(2) Survey arriving and departing uniformed services families to assess the effectiveness of programs and services under this chapter as specified by the division.
(1) Adopt the Purple Star School Program developed by the Arkansas Council for Military Children and approved by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education; and
(2) Survey arriving and departing uniformed services families to assess the effectiveness of programs and services under this chapter as specified by the division.
(b) The purpose of the Purple Star School Program shall be to:(1) Assist children of uniformed services families by addressing the educational, social, and emotional challenges the children of uniformed services families face during their transition to a new school; and(2) Keep children of uniformed services families on track to enroll and excel in college, enter the workforce, and become life-ready.
(1) Assist children of uniformed services families by addressing the educational, social, and emotional challenges the children of uniformed services families face during their transition to a new school; and
(2) Keep children of uniformed services families on track to enroll and excel in college, enter the workforce, and become life-ready.
(c) The council-developed Purple Star School Program required under subsection (a) of this section shall:(1) Require each public school to designate a military family education facilitator to:(A) Identify military-connected students who are enrolled in the public school and inform public school teachers of those students;(B) Serve as the Purple Star School Program point of contact for the public school, each child of a military family, and the parent, legal guardian, person having lawful control of, or person standing in loco parentis to a child of a military family; and(C) Assist in determining and coordinating public school services and programs for military-connected students;(2) Require a designated public school military family education facilitator, public school district military family education coordinator, and public school staff to complete council-recommended and division-approved initial and continuing education on identifying the needs and unique challenges faced by children of members of the uniformed services;(3) Require each public school district to include on its website a “Military Families” section that informs uniformed services families of:(A) The student enrollment application process;(B) Available education pathways;(C) Notable public school or public school district Purple Star School Programs;(D) Public school district military family education coordinator contact information; and(E) Public school military family education facilitator contact information;(4) (A) Require each public school or public school district to establish a volunteer student-to-student peer ambassador program that shall be open to all enrolled students who want to contribute.(B) The volunteer student-to-student peer ambassador program required under subdivision (c)(4)(A) of this section shall:(i) Connect and welcome inbound students ahead of their transition to a public school;(ii) Assist with the provision of new student orientation; and(iii) Assist new students with establishing social connections at their new school;(5) Establish school and community events to honor and recognize members of the uniformed services and military-connected students;(6) Ensure that a public school or public school district appoints a volunteer uniformed services member, military spouse, or representative from a military installation or unit to serve on the school community and family engagement committee;(7) Ensure that a public school district's or public school's parent and family engagement plan required under § 6-15-1702 addresses relevant military family issues and resources; and(8) Require public schools and public school districts to collaborate with military commands to encourage uniformed services families to self-identify their military status.
(1) Require each public school to designate a military family education facilitator to:(A) Identify military-connected students who are enrolled in the public school and inform public school teachers of those students;(B) Serve as the Purple Star School Program point of contact for the public school, each child of a military family, and the parent, legal guardian, person having lawful control of, or person standing in loco parentis to a child of a military family; and(C) Assist in determining and coordinating public school services and programs for military-connected students;
(A) Identify military-connected students who are enrolled in the public school and inform public school teachers of those students;
(B) Serve as the Purple Star School Program point of contact for the public school, each child of a military family, and the parent, legal guardian, person having lawful control of, or person standing in loco parentis to a child of a military family; and
(C) Assist in determining and coordinating public school services and programs for military-connected students;
(2) Require a designated public school military family education facilitator, public school district military family education coordinator, and public school staff to complete council-recommended and division-approved initial and continuing education on identifying the needs and unique challenges faced by children of members of the uniformed services;
(3) Require each public school district to include on its website a “Military Families” section that informs uniformed services families of:(A) The student enrollment application process;(B) Available education pathways;(C) Notable public school or public school district Purple Star School Programs;(D) Public school district military family education coordinator contact information; and(E) Public school military family education facilitator contact information;
(A) The student enrollment application process;
(B) Available education pathways;
(C) Notable public school or public school district Purple Star School Programs;
(D) Public school district military family education coordinator contact information; and
(E) Public school military family education facilitator contact information;
(4) (A) Require each public school or public school district to establish a volunteer student-to-student peer ambassador program that shall be open to all enrolled students who want to contribute.(B) The volunteer student-to-student peer ambassador program required under subdivision (c)(4)(A) of this section shall:(i) Connect and welcome inbound students ahead of their transition to a public school;(ii) Assist with the provision of new student orientation; and(iii) Assist new students with establishing social connections at their new school;
(A) Require each public school or public school district to establish a volunteer student-to-student peer ambassador program that shall be open to all enrolled students who want to contribute.
(B) The volunteer student-to-student peer ambassador program required under subdivision (c)(4)(A) of this section shall:(i) Connect and welcome inbound students ahead of their transition to a public school;(ii) Assist with the provision of new student orientation; and(iii) Assist new students with establishing social connections at their new school;
(i) Connect and welcome inbound students ahead of their transition to a public school;
(ii) Assist with the provision of new student orientation; and
(iii) Assist new students with establishing social connections at their new school;
(5) Establish school and community events to honor and recognize members of the uniformed services and military-connected students;
(6) Ensure that a public school or public school district appoints a volunteer uniformed services member, military spouse, or representative from a military installation or unit to serve on the school community and family engagement committee;
(7) Ensure that a public school district's or public school's parent and family engagement plan required under § 6-15-1702 addresses relevant military family issues and resources; and
(8) Require public schools and public school districts to collaborate with military commands to encourage uniformed services families to self-identify their military status.
(d) The Purple Star School Program required under subsection (a) of this section may authorize public schools and public school districts to expand their Purple Star School Program to include community-level initiatives, including without limitation:(1) Engaging community organizations, local businesses, and military installations to enhance resources and support for military-connected students and their families;(2) Organizing community events that raise awareness of military-connected students and their contributions; and(3) Establishing partnerships with regional stakeholders to enhance Purple Star School Program efforts while fulfilling all requirements for the Purple Star School Program established by the division.
(1) Engaging community organizations, local businesses, and military installations to enhance resources and support for military-connected students and their families;
(2) Organizing community events that raise awareness of military-connected students and their contributions; and
(3) Establishing partnerships with regional stakeholders to enhance Purple Star School Program efforts while fulfilling all requirements for the Purple Star School Program established by the division.
(e) As used in this section, a “military-connected student” is:(1) An incoming or a currently enrolled student who is a child or dependent of a current or former active or reserve component uniformed services member;(2) A child of a uniformed services member who died while on active duty or as a result of injuries sustained while on active duty;(3) A student who is a sibling of a uniformed services member;(4) A student who has enlisted in the uniformed services; or(5) A Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps cadet.
(1) An incoming or a currently enrolled student who is a child or dependent of a current or former active or reserve component uniformed services member;
(2) A child of a uniformed services member who died while on active duty or as a result of injuries sustained while on active duty;
(3) A student who is a sibling of a uniformed services member;
(4) A student who has enlisted in the uniformed services; or
(5) A Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps cadet.