Authorizes the commissioner of education to implement a purple star schools program to recognize schools and school districts which demonstrate a commitment to assisting military-connected students and their families.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A547
SPONSOR: Burdick TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to authorizing the
commissioner of education to implement a purple star schools program
PURPOSE:
Authorizes the commissioner of education to establish a purple star
schools program.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill amends § 305 of the Education Law in relation to
the powers and duties of the commissioner by authorizing the commission-
er to establish a purple star schools program, which, upon application
of a school or school district, is a designation that shall be awarded
to a school who has:
(1) appointed a military liaison,
(2) created a website of resources for military-connected students,
(3) maintained a transition program for military-connected students,
(4) offer staff professional development on military-connected student
issues,
(5) monitored the academic progress of military-connected students,
(6) either
(a) passed a resolution in support of military-connected students,
(b) hosted an event in support of military-connected students or
(c) offered volunteer opportunities at the campus for military members.
A school or school district may partner with a third party to administer
these provisions. The commissioner may promulgate rules to design the
program.
Section 2 establishes the effective date.
EXISTING LAW:
All New York schools currently participate in the Military Interstate
Children's Compact, which provides technical assistance for active-duty
military-connected students on certain issues pertaining to placement,
records, immunizations and graduation but does not encompass the service
indicators set forth in this legislation.
JUSTIFICATION:
The Department of Defense recommends states help schools to make assess-
ments so that critical information is easily accessible to military
connected students, military families, school and school district facul-
ty and staff by creating a statewide Purple Star Schools program. Purple
Star Schools are military-friendly schools that have demonstrated a
major commitment to students and families connected to our nation's
military. Designated schools have met specific state designed require-
ments to support the unique situations facing military students and
their families.
As our military members and their families move from state to state,
providing for a smooth educational transition for their children is key
to eliminating one of the largest concerns the parents face. The clarity
and precision derived from New York communicating clear expectations and
responsibilities at the state level ensures standardization and creates
consistency as the program scales and families move more frequently
between Purple Star schools, even to and from other states.
As New York is already home to 26,777 active-duty service members,
10,145 active-duty spouses, 16,494 active-duty children, 40,851 National
Guard and reserve members, 16,695 National Guard and reserve spouses and
22,650 National Guard and reserve children, it has the benefit of being
able to draw upon existing expertise and engagement with existing stake-
holders.
Thirteen states have created statewide Purple Star School Programs. By
utilizing the best practices identified by the Department of Defense,
this legislation gives New York the potential to create a robust network
of local, state, and national stakeholders and cultivate competency in
the area of military-connected student transition, offering New York's
Purple Star Schools the opportunity to demonstrate their cultural fluen-
cy to parents and families.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-22 A7083(Burdick) Referred to Education.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
At the state level, schools will need to apply for the designation. The
commissioner will therefore need to establish the program, develop
guidelines, related forms and documents to administer the program.
Existing education department staff may need to provide professional
development to schools and school systems to raise awareness and explain
programmatic requirements on a part-time basis, as well as review appli-
cations to determine if schools meet the qualifications to achieve the
designation. There will also be a de minimis annual cost for banners,
certificates or some form of recognition for a designated school, supply
costs which can be covered with existing resources. To the extent a
school or schools wish to be recognized as a Purple Star School, there
may be no cost as they already meet the criterion to achieve the desig-
nation, or there may be operational changes required that can be managed
with existing resources.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
547
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 9, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BURDICK, DICKENS, GUNTHER, OTIS, CLARK, JACKSON,
GONZALEZ-ROJAS, JENSEN, ANGELINO, MANKTELOW -- read once and referred
to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to authorizing the
commissioner of education to implement a purple star schools program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 305 of the education law is amended by adding a new
2 subdivision 60 to read as follows:
3 60. The commissioner shall establish a "purple star schools program"
4 to recognize schools and school districts which demonstrate a commitment
5 to assisting military-connected students and their families.
6 a. The commissioner, or his or her designee, shall designate a school
7 as a "purple star school" upon application of a school or school
8 district which:
9 (i) has designated a staff member as a military liaison whose duties
10 include: (A) identifying military-connected students enrolled in the
11 district; (B) serving as the point of contact between the school or
12 school district and such students; (C) determining appropriate campus
13 services available to military-connected students; and (D) assisting in
14 coordinating campus programs relevant to military-connected students;
15 (ii) maintains on its website an easily accessible page that includes
16 resources for military-connected students and their families, including
17 information regarding: (A) relocation to, enrollment at, registration
18 at, and transferring records to the campus; (B) academic planning,
19 course sequences, and advanced classes available at the campus; (C)
20 counseling and other support services available for military-connected
21 students enrolled at the campus; (D) the military liaison designated
22 under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph, and the liaison's duties under
23 such subparagraph; and (E) the state military family education liaison
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01126-01-3
A. 547 2
1 designated pursuant to section thirty-three hundred eight of this chap-
2 ter;
3 (iii) maintains a transition program led by students, where appropri-
4 ate, that assists military-connected students in transitioning into the
5 campus;
6 (iv) offers professional development for staff members on issues
7 related to military-connected students;
8 (v) for purposes of monitoring academic progress of military-connected
9 students, includes an identifier on the student record of a military-
10 connected student and include in the basic educational data system
11 reports (BEDS), the number of military-connected students enrolled in
12 such school or school district; and
13 (vi) the board of education or other person or entity authorized to
14 act on behalf of the school or school district has either: (A) issued a
15 resolution, proclamation, or other official statement of support for
16 military-connected students and their families; or (B) issued a resol-
17 ution, proclamation, or other official statement recognizing the month
18 of April as the "month of the military child" and/or the month of Novem-
19 ber as "military family month" and has hosted events on campus celebrat-
20 ing either or both; or (C) entered into a partnership with a military
21 installation, national guard armory or reserve center that provides
22 opportunities for military members to volunteer at the campus, speak at
23 an assembly, host a field trip, or participate in such other educational
24 activities as the commissioner or his or her designee deem appropriate.
25 b. A school or school district may partner with a third party to
26 provide those services and initiatives specified under paragraph a of
27 this subdivision.
28 c. The commissioner may promulgate rules to effectuate the purposes of
29 this subdivision.
30 d. As used in this subdivision, "military-connected student" means a
31 school-aged child enrolled in kindergarten through twelfth grade in the
32 household of an active duty member of the United States military, a
33 reserve force of the United States military, the organized militia of
34 this state or any other state.
35 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
