ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-sixth Legislature

Second Regular Session

 

HB 2246: purple star school designation; requirements

Sponsor: Representative Payne, LD 27

Committee on Education

Overview

Creates the Purple Star School Program (Program) within the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) to identify schools that provide support to military students and families.

History

In 2008, Arizona enacted legislation to join the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (Compact). The Compact's purpose is to remove barriers to educational success imposed on children of military families because of frequent moves and deployment of their parents by supporting the timely enrollment, placement and graduation of children of military families (A.R.S. § 15-1911). All 50 states and the District of Columbia participate in the Compact to provide a uniform policy platform for resolving the challenges experienced by military children (Department of Defense Education Activity).

According to the Military Child Education Coalition, as of October 2023, there are 38 states that have received purple star school designation (2022 Purple Star Schools Program).

Provisions

1.   ☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal NoteEstablishes the Program within ADE to identify schools that provide transition support to military students and their families.

2.   Permits ADE to adopt policies and procedures to implement the Program.

3.   Allows any school that offers instruction in kindergarten or the 1st-12th grades to apply to ADE to participate in the Program.

4.   Specifies a private school may participate in the Program on the same terms and subject to the same requirements as any public school.

5.   Instructs ADE to approve a Program application if a school demonstrates that it:

a)   provides professional development training related to the unique needs of highly mobile students and military students to at least 70% of its employees;

b)   designates an employee to serve as the school's point of contact for the Program;

c) establishes a peer mentorship program for military students;

d)   holds at least one patriotic event during each school year; and

e)   maintains a website or dedicated page on its website with resources for military students and their families.

6.   Specifies the first professional development training must be provided in person and subsequent training may be provided electronically.

7.   Allows a school to accept in-kind donations for the professional development training.

8.   Details requirements a school must consider when selecting a designated point of contact, as well as the requirements and duties the designated point of contact must carry out.

9.   Requires, for the peer mentorship program, school administrators to select and train enrolled students to serve as student mentors and support military students who are transitioning into the school.

10.  Mandates the patriotic event recognize the service of military members and their families and educate attendees about military service in the U.S. and Arizona.

11.  Details the information that must be included by a participating Program school on a website or dedicated page of the school's website.

12.  Authorizes ADE to develop additional criteria for the eligibility determination a school must meet to participate in the Program.

13.  Mandates each purple star school, by June 30 annually, submit a report to ADE containing prescribed information regarding the Program for the current school year.

14.  Directs ADE to review the submitted reports to determine whether each purple star school continues to satisfy eligibility requirements.

15.  Instructs ADE, if it is determined that a purple star school failed to submit the required report or demonstrate that it meets eligibility requirements, to notify the purple star school of the determination and the specific action required to cure the deficiency.

16.  Requires ADE, if a purple star school fails to submit to ADE evidence that the deficiency has been cured within 90 days after notice is issued, to notify the school that it is no longer approved to participate in the Program and may not represent itself as a purple star school to the public.

17.  Defines military, military student, purple star school and veteran.

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21.                    HB 2246

22.  Initials CH           Page 0 Education

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