The Virginia Purple Star Designation Program for Schools
The Virginia Purple Star Designation is awarded to military-friendly schools that have demonstrated a major commitment to students and families connected to our nation’s military. Schools that earn the award will receive a special Purple Star recognition to display onsite.
A school will be honored with the Purple Star Award if it completes all the required activities, plus one optional activity. The Virginia Department of Education’s Military Student Support Process Action Team, (MSSPAT) formed by the Virginia Department of Education, will review all school applications for the award. Final approval on awards will be made by members of the Virginia Council on the Interstate Compact on the Educational Opportunity for Military Children.
How to Qualify
The school must have a staff point of contact (POC) for military students and families. The POC serves as the primary link between the military family and the school. This contact could be a counselor, administrator, teacher or another staff member;
- The school based POC must have completed VDOE Modules: Supporting Our Military–Connected Children in School Settings: Moving them from Risk to Resilience Module 1
and Module 2. Additionally, POC must complete the follow up questions found in the application and supply a copy of the module completion certificate. - The POC works with school administration and or military program partners to conduct a school wide professional development that informs staff of the unique needs of military-connected students and on supports available to support these students. Evidence of this training would include copies of sign in sheets and training materials presented.
- The school keeps or links to a division wide page dedicated to military student and family support. This web page must include the following information.
- Military Families: Planning your Arrival to (Insert School Division):
Information on Enrollment and the registration process - Military Families: Preparing your Move from (Insert School Division):
Information on educational records requests and transfers - School and or linked division webpages for supporting military families will be reviewed to determine if the page contains clear and concise information on the division’s remote registration process for incoming military connected students. Remote registration is permissible under Section B-3 of the Code of Virginia § 22.1-3. Persons to whom public schools shall be free. - Academic Planning for Military Families:
Information on Advanced Academic Programs and application deadlines (Specialty Centers), Graduation Requirements, Diploma Options, and Home Instruction - Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunities for Military Children:
Information on the Compact Rules and their application - Special Needs Navigation and Parental Rights:
This includes information on Special Education services and parental rights to include parental consent. - Other matters of Importance:
This may include, Impact Aid, Student-Parent Survey, PTA and PTSA, Extra Curricular Activities and local Community Supports etc.
- Military Families: Planning your Arrival to (Insert School Division):
- The school division has assigned a central office staff member to be the contact for the school based liaison and military families; and
- The School maintains a student led transition program to include a student transition team coordinator. This program should provide peer support for newly enrolled and withdrawing students to include those that are military connected. Evidence could include; calendar of events, a narrative of activities conducted, flyers, photos or student welcoming or training materials.
- Division Wide Activities - Purple Star Schools must provide evidence that the division completed at least one of the following:
- Division wide professional development regarding special considerations for military students and families. Evidence of this training should include the following documentation: agenda, presentation materials and names of participants.
- The school board passes a resolution publicizing the school division’s support for military students and families. Applicant must include a copy of the resolution.
- The school division hosts a military recognition event designed to demonstrate a military-friendly culture across the school division community. In addition to the event summary please provide copies of marketing materials, news articles or photographs.
- Submitted the application by the deadline.
Application
Applications for the Purple Star Designation are being accepted from April 1, 2021 until September 21, 2021. All applicants are asked to read the information below carefully. Before selecting the application link applicants must prepare written summaries and artifacts for evidence. These must be uploaded at the time the application is being summited. File types supported for upload include PDF, DOC, DOCX, PNG, JPG, JPEG and GIF. Please feel free to contact Dan Dunham, VDOE Military Student and Families Specialist at dan.dunham@doe.virginia.gov if you have any questions or concerns.
Step 1: Prepare Application Responses
The following information and questions will be asked of all Purple Star applicants. Pease read these carefully so you may prepare your documents for upload.
- Question 1: Applicants will be asked if they are applying for a school who previously earned the Purple Star Designation during school year 2018-2019. Be prepared to answer yes or no.
- Question 2:
Applicants will need to supply the following contact information.
- Applicants First and Last Name
- Email Address of Applicant
- Name of School
- Principal's Full Name
- Email Address
- School Phone Number
- Question 3: Additional Contact information will also be required.
- Name of School Based POC
- Email for School Based POC
- Name of Division Level Staff Support for School Based POC
- Email of Division Level Staff Support for School Based POC
- Name of Division Superintendent
- Email of Division Superintendent
The next few questions will be asked and a separate files with written narratives and supporting evidence must be prepared and uploaded for each question. Applicants are highly encouraged to review these questions and prepare these files before selecting the link to submit a Purple Star application. As stated earlier only the following file types are accepted. PDF, DOC, DOCX, PNG, JPG, JPEG and GIF.
- Question 4: Applicants will be asked to upload a copy of the School Based POC's completion certificate for VDOE Modules: Supporting Our Military-Connected Children in School Settings: Moving them from Risk to Resilience
- Question 5: Applicants will be asked to upload a written summary of active peer transition team efforts and include evidence to support the team’s engagement with peers and the school community.
- Question 6: Applicants will be asked to upload a written narrative and supporting evidence of school wide professional development on supporting military connected students and their families. This must include the date this training occurred. The PD must have been delivered between August 2019 and September 2021.
- Question 7: Applicants will be asked to upload a written narrative and supporting evidence that demonstrates how your school addresses the additional transitional needs of military connected students who receive special education services.
- Question 8: Applicants will be asked to upload a written narrative and supporting evidence of at least one of the following division wide efforts to build community support for military students and their families.
- Division wide professional development regarding special considerations for military students and families. Evidence of this training should include a letter from division level administrator that includes the date of training between August 2019 and September 21, 2021 and list of schools participating. And or,
- The school board passes a resolution publicizing the school’s support for military students and families. Please submit a copy of this resolution. And or,
- A military recognition event hosted by the school division designed to demonstrate a military-friendly culture across the school division community. In addition to the event summary, please provide copies of marketing materials, news articles, or photographs.
- Question 9: Applicants will have the opportunity to provide any additional information
- Optional Information: Please feel free to upload any additional written narratives are supporting evidence.
Step 2: Submit Application Form
After you have prepared written summaries to include artifacts of evidence as described above, submit your responses through the 2021-2020 Purple Star Application Form.
Purple Star Honorees
The Virginia Department of Education and the Virginia Council on the Interstate Compact for Military Children are pleased to recognize the following schools for their excellence in supporting military connected children and their families.
| Division | School | Award Year |
| Chesapeake County Public Schools | B. M. Primary School | 2018-2019 |
| Chesapeake County Public Schools | Oscar F. Smith High School | 2018-2019 |
| Chesapeake County Public Schools | Deep Creek Central Elementary School | 2018-2019 |
| Chesapeake County Public Schools | Grassfield Elementary School | 2018-2019 |
| Chesapeake County Public Schools | Indian River High School | 2018-2019 |
| Chesapeake County Public Schools | Chesapeake County Public Schools | 2018-2019 |
| Chesapeake County Public Schools | Cedar Road Elementary School | 2018-2019 |
| Chesapeake County Public Schools | Deep Creek Middle School | 2018-2019 |
| Chesapeake Public Schools | Deep Creek High School | 2018-2019 |
| Chesapeake County Public Schools | Grassfield High School | 2018-2019 |
| Chesapeake County Public Schools | Great Bridge High School | 2018-2019 |
| Chesapeake County Public Schools | Hickory Middle School | 2018-2019 |
| Chesapeake Public Schools | Hickory High School | 2018-2019 |
| Chesapeake County Public Schools | Western Branch High School | 2018-2019 |
| Chesterfield County Public Schools | Curtis Elementary School | 2018-2019 |
| Chesterfield County Public Schools | Spring Run Elementary School | 2018-2019 |
| Chesterfield County Public Schools | Carver College and Career Academy | 2018-2019 |
| Chesterfield County Public Schools | Hopkins Elementary School | 2018-2019 |
| Chesterfield County Public Schools | Matoaca High School | 2018-2019 |
| Cumberland County Public Schools | Cumberland Elementary School | 2018-2019 |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | Hayfield Secondary School | 2018-2019 |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | Sunrise Valley Elementary School | 2018-2019 |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | Clermont Elementary School | 2018-2019 |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | Colin Powell Elementary School | 2018-2019 |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | Flint Hill Elementary School | 2018-2019 |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | Anthony T. Lane | 2018-2019 |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | Fort Belvoir Upper | 2018-2019 |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | Fort Belvoir Primary | 2018-2019 |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | Longfellow Middle School | 2018-2019 |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | North Springfield Elementary School | 2018-2019 |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | Rocky Run Middle School | 2018-2019 |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | Sangster Elementary School | 2018-2019 |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | Hunt Valley Elementary School | 2018-2019 |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | Waynewood Elementary School | 2018-2019 |
| Gloucester County Public Schools | Gloucester High School | 2018-2019 |
| Gloucester County Public Schools | Achilles Elementary School | 2018-2019 |
| Norfolk Public Schools | Tarrallton Elementary School | 2018-2019 |
| Norfolk Public Schools | Mary Calcott Elementary School | 2018-2019 |
| Manassas County Public Schools | Weems Elementary School | 2018-2019 |
| Montgomery County Public Schools | Blacksburg High School | 2018-2019 |
| Prince William County Public Schools | Ashland Elementary School | 2018-2019 |
| Prince William County Public Schools | Penn Elementary School | 2018-2019 |
| Prince William County Public Schools | Mary G. Porter Traditional Elementary School | 2018-2019 |
| Stafford County Public Schools | Park Ridge Elementary School | 2018-2019 |
| Stafford County Public Schools | Colonial Forge High School | 2018-2019 |
| Stafford County Public Schools | Conway Elementary School | 2018-2019 |
| Stafford County Public Schools | Rocky Run Elementary School | 2018-2019 |
| Stafford County Public Schools | Kate Waller Barrett Elementary School | 2018-2019 |
| Stafford County Public Schools | Stafford Middle School | 2018-2019 |
| Suffolk City Public Schools | Northern Shores Elementary | 2018-2019 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Salem High School | 2018-2019 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Great Neck Middle School | 2018-2019 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Hermitage Elementary School | 2018-2019 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Floyd E. Kellam High School | 2018-2019 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Shelton Park Elementary School | 2018-2019 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | While Oaks Elementary School | 2018-2019 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Kempsville High School | 2018-2019 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | New Castle Elementary School | 2018-2019 |
| Williamsburg James City County Public Schools | J. B. Blayton Elementary School | 2018-2019 |
| York County Public Schools | Coventry Elementary School | 2018-2019 |
| York County Public Schools | Grafton Elementary School | 2018-2019 |
| York County Public Schools | Tabb Middle School | 2018-2019 |
| York County Public Schools | Yorktown Middle School | 2018-2019 |
| Private: Stafford County | Holy Cross Academy | 2018-2019 |
| Private: Alexandria | Saint Louis School | 2018-2019 |
| Private: Newport News | Our Lady of Mount Carmel School | 2018-2019 |
| Private: Norfolk | Norfolk Collegiate Lower School | 2018-2019 |
| Arlington County Public Schools | Discovery Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Chesapeake Public Schools | Crestwood Middle School | 2019-2020 |
| Chesapeake Public Schools | Great Bridge Middle School | 2019-2020 |
| Chesapeake Public Schools | Greenbrier Intermediate School | 2019-2020 |
| Chesapeake Public Schools | Greenbrier Middle School | 2019-2020 |
| Chesapeake Public Schools | Hickory Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Chesapeake Public Schools | Hugo Owen Middle School | 2019-2020 |
| Chesapeake Public Schools | Indian River Middle School | 2019-2020 |
| Chesapeake Public Schools | Jolliff Middle School | 2019-2020 |
| Chesapeake Public Schools | Oscar Smith Middle School | 2019-2020 |
| Chesapeake Public Schools | Western Branch Middle School | 2019-2020 |
| Colonial Heights Public Schools | Lakeview Elementary | 2019-2020 |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | Carl Sandburg Middle School | 2019-2020 |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | Fairhill Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | Fort Hunt Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | Franconia Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | Gunston Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | Hayfield Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | Key Center School | 2019-2020 |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | Laurel Ridge Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | Mosby Woods Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | Mount Vernon High School | 2019-2020 |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | Orange Hunt Elementary | 2019-2020 |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | Riverside Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | Saratoga Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | Stratford Landing Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | W.T. Woodson High School | 2019-2020 |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | Walt Whitman Middle School | 2019-2020 |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | Washington Mill Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | Woodley Hills Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Hanover County Public Schools | Patrick Henry High School | 2019-2020 |
| Loudoun County Public Schools | Trailside Middle School | 2019-2020 |
| Norfolk Public Schools | Academy for Discovery at Lakewood | 2019-2020 |
| Norfolk Public Schools | Bay View Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Norfolk Public Schools | Camp Allen Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Norfolk Public Schools | Granby Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Norfolk Public Schools | Larchmont Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Norfolk Public Schools | Sewells Point Elementary | 2019-2020 |
| Norfolk Public Schools | Willard Model Elementary | 2019-2020 |
| Norfolk Public Schools | Willoughby Early Childhood Center | 2019-2020 |
| Poquoson City Public Schools | Poquoson High School | 2019-2020 |
| Portsmouth Public Schools | Victory Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Prince George County Public Schools | L. L. Beazley Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Prince George County Public Schools | North Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Prince William County Public Schools | Alexander Henderson Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Prince William County Public Schools | Forest Park High School | 2019-2020 |
| Prince William County Public Schools | Frannie W. Fitzgerald Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Prince William County Public Schools | Gainesville Middle School for the Arts & Sciences | 2019-2020 |
| Prince William County Public Schools | John F. Pattie Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Prince William County Public Schools | Kyle R. Wilson Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Prince William County Public Schools | Louise A. Benton Middle School | 2019-2020 |
| Prince William County Public Schools | Parkside Middle School | 2019-2020 |
| Prince William County Public Schools | Springwoods Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Prince William County Public Schools | Woodbridge Senior High School | 2019-2020 |
| Private: Alexandria, Va | Browne Academy | 2019-2020 |
| Private: Newport News | Penninsula Catholic High School | 2019-2020 |
| Private: Norfolk, Va | St. Pius X Catholic School | 2019-2020 |
| Private: Triangle, Va | St. Francis of Assisi | 2019-2020 |
| Private: Virginia Beach, Va | Chesapeake Bay Academy | 2019-2020 |
| Private: Hampton, Va | Saint Mary Star of the Sea School | 2019-2020 |
| Spotsylvania County Public Schools | Wilderness Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Stafford County Public Schools | Hampton Oaks Elementary | 2019-2020 |
| Stafford County Public Schools | Rockhill Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Stafford County Public Schools | Widewater Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Stafford County Public Schools | Winding Creek Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Suffolk County Public Schools | John Yeates Middle School | 2019-2020 |
| Suffolk County Public Schools | Nansemond Parkway Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Alanton Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Arrowhead Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Bayside High School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Bayside Middle School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Bayside Middle School Sixth Grade Campus | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Birdneck Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Brandon Middle School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Brookwood Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Centerville Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Christopher Farms Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Corporate Landing Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Corporate Landing Middle School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Frank W. Cox High School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Green Run Collegiate | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Green Run High School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Independence Middle School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | John B. Dey Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Kempsville Meadows Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Kempsville Middle School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | King’s Grant Elementary | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Landstown Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Landstown High School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Landstown Middle School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Larkspur Middle School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Linkhorn Park Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Luxford Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Lynnhaven Middle School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | North Landing Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Ocean Lakes Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Ocean Lakes High School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Old Donation School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Pembroke Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Pembroke Meadows Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Plaza Middle School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Princess Anne Middle School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Providence Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Red Mill Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Rosemont Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Rosemont Forest Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Salem High School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Salem Middle School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Strawbridge Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Tallwood High School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Thalia Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Thoroughgood Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Three Oaks Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Trantwood Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Virginia Beach Middle School | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Virginia Beach Technical and Career Education Center | 2019-2020 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Windsor Woods Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| York County School Division | Bethel Manor Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| York County School Division | Bruton High School | 2019-2020 |
| York County School Division | Tabb Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| York County School Division | Waller Mill Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| York County School Division | Yorktown Elementary School | 2019-2020 |
| York County School Division | Grafton Middle School | 2019-2020 |
| Chesapeake Public Schools | Butts Road Primary | 2020-2021 |
| Chesapeake Public Schools | G.W. Carver Intermediate | 2020-2021 |
| Chesapeake Public Schools | Portlock Primary School | 2020-2021 |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | Keene Mill ES | 2020-2021 |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | West Springfield ES | 2020-2021 |
| Gloucester County Public Schools | Petsworth ES | 2020-2021 |
| Norfolk Public Schools | Ocean View ES | 2020-2021 |
| Prince George County Public Schools | Harrison ES | 2020-2021 |
| Prince George County Public Schools | William A. Walton ES | 2020-2021 |
| Prince William County Public Schools | C.D. Hyton HS | 2020-2021 |
| Prince William County Public Schools | Mary Williams ES | 2020-2021 |
| Prince William County Public Schools | Minnieville ES | 2020-2021 |
| Prince William County Public Schools | Mountainview ES | 2020-2021 |
| Prince William County Public Schools | Old Bridge ES | 2020-2021 |
| Prince William County Public Schools | Rockledge ES | 2020-2021 |
| Prince William County Public Schools | Samuel L. Graverly ES | 2020-2021 |
| Prince William County Public Schools | Bristow Run ES | 2020-2021 |
| Private: Virginia Beach | Catholic HS Virginia Beach | 2020-2021 |
| Private: Virginia Beach | St. Matthews Virginia Beach | 2020-2021 |
| Private: Arlington | St. Thomas Moore Arlington | 2020-2021 |
| Spotsylvania County Public Schools | Spotswood ES | 2020-2021 |
| Stafford County Public Schools | Anthony Burns ES | 2020-2021 |
| Virginia Beach Public Schools | Salem ES | 2020-2021 |
| York County Public Schools | Dare ES | 2020-2021 |