HB 24-1076

House Bill 24-1076, also known as the Purple Star School Program, aims to support military-connected students and their families in Colorado by designating schools that provide special services and supports. Schools can apply for this designation if they meet certain criteria, such as having a staff member dedicated to helping military families, offering professional development related to military issues, and providing resources on their website. The program will be overseen by the Department of Education, which will create guidelines and a timeline for schools to apply and renew their status every three years. Governor Jared Polis signed this bill into law on May 18, 2024, and it will take effect on August 7, 2024.

Official Summary

The act creates the purple star school program (program) in the department of education (department). The purpose of the program is to designate schools of a school district, district charter schools, institute charter schools, or boards of cooperative services (public schools) that provide services and supports to military-connected students and their families to help mitigate the academic and social-emotional challenges they may face as a result of frequent moves, new schools, parental deployments, and different social circles and experiences. The department is required to create: An application for a public school to apply for a purple star school designation; A rubric to measure whether a public school qualifies for a purple star school designation; and A timeline for a public school to apply for and to renew the purple star school designation. The department shall designate a public school as a purple star school if the public school applies and qualifies for the designation. To qualify as a purple star school, a public school shall: Designate a staff member as a military liaison; Create and maintain on the public school's website an accessible web page that includes resources for military-connected students and their families; Establish and maintain a student-led transition program that assists military-connected students who are relocating to the public school; Offer professional development for educators and staff on issues related to military-connected students; and Offer at least one of the following initiatives: A public school resolution published on the public school's website showing support for military-connected students and their families; Celebrations in April and November to recognize military children and military families, with associated events hosted by the public school; 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 Student-driven clubs and groups that show community-family engagement for military-connected students and their families. 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. A purple star school designation is valid for 3 years. For the 2024-25 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $33,247 to the department to implement the program. APPROVED by Governor May 18, 2024 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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