(1) As
used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) Board of cooperative services or BOCES means a board of cooperative
services created and operating pursuant to article 5 of this title 22.
(b) Department means the department of education created in section 24-1-115.
(c) Military-connected student means a student enrolled in a school of a
school district, district charter school, institute charter school, or BOCES who is a
dependent of a:
(I) Current or former member of the United States military;
(II) United States department of defense active-duty service member;
(III) Colorado National Guard member;
(IV) United States military reserves member; or
(V) Member of the United States military, Colorado National Guard, or United
States military reserves killed in the line of duty.
(d) Public school means a school of a school district, a charter school
authorized by a school district pursuant to part 1 of article 30.5 of this title 22, a
charter school authorized by the state charter school institute pursuant to part 5 of
article 30.5 of this title 22, or a BOCES.
(e) Purple star school program or program means the purple star school
program created in subsection (2) of this section.
(2) (a) The purple star school program is created in the department. The
purpose of the program is to designate as purple star schools public schools that
provide services and supports to military-connected students and their families to
mitigate academic and social-emotional challenges related to frequent moves, new
schools, parental deployments, and different social circles and experiences.
(b) The department shall create:
(I) An application for a public school to apply for a purple star school
designation;
(II) A rubric to measure whether a public school qualifies for a purple star
school designation, which must identify:
(A) The required program implementation steps that correspond to
subsection (3) of this section; and
(B) Evaluation criteria to provide feedback to a public school on the public
school's readiness to implement the program; and
(III) A timeline for a public school to apply for and to renew the purple star
school designation.
(c) The department shall designate a public school as a purple star school if
the public school applies and qualifies for the designation pursuant to the rubric
described in subsection (2)(b)(II) of this section.
(3) (a) To qualify as a purple star school, a public school shall:
(I) Designate a staff member as a military liaison, who shall perform the
following duties:
(A) Identify military-connected students enrolled at the public school;
(B) Serve as the point of contact between the public school campus and
military-connected students and their families;
(C) Determine appropriate school services available to military-connected
students; and
(D) Determine whether military-connected students have access to the
appropriate counseling services, mentorship services, volunteer opportunities, and
student support services;
(II) Create and maintain on the public school's website an accessible web
page that includes resources for military-connected students and their families,
including the following information:
(A) How to relocate to, enroll in, register for, and transfer records to the
public school;
(B) Academic planning, course sequences, and advanced courses available
at the public school;
(C) Counseling and other support services available for military-connected
students enrolled at the public school; and
(D) The name of the designated military liaison for the public school and the
military liaison's duties as described in subsection (3)(a)(I) of this section;
(III) Establish and maintain a student-led transition program that assists
military-connected students who are relocating to the public school;
(IV) Offer professional development for educators and staff on issues
related to military-connected students; and
(V) Offer at least one of the following initiatives:
(A) A public school resolution published on the public school's website
showing support for military-connected students and their families;
(B) Celebrations in April and November to recognize military children and
military families, with associated events hosted by the public school;
(C) A partnership with a local military installation that facilitates
opportunities for military members to volunteer on the public school's campus,
speak at a public school assembly, or host a field trip; or
(D) Student-driven clubs and groups that show community-family
engagement for military-connected students and their families.
(b) The department may establish additional criteria to identify public
schools committed to supporting military-connected families, including:
(I) Hosting an annual military recognition event;
(II) Partnering with a school liaison program manager from a military
installation;
(III) Supporting projects that connect the public school to the military
community; or
(IV) Providing outreach to military-connected students and their families.
(4) During the first week of April each year, the governor, or the governor's
designee, shall recognize each purple star school and present the purple star
schools with a certificate.
(5) A purple star school designation is valid for three years.
(6) The department may promulgate rules for the implementation of this
section.