Supporting Military Families in Kentucky’s Schools

 

PCCHS Purple Sta​​​​​r Liaison: Dr. Cline

Talk to PCCHS Administrators for more info on how PCCHS supports military families in our school! Phone: 606-432-4352

 

A military connected youth is a child or adolescent with a close family member serving in any branch of the United States Armed Forces, and any status, Active Duty, Reserve, or National Guard.

Students in military families face distinctive challenges related to transitioning between schools while their military family members are deployed, relocated and separated from each other.  Between kindergarten to high school graduation, military children move and change schools three times more often than their civilian peers.  These transitions have a big impact on military connected students and schools utilize multiple resources to help ease these changes for students academically and emotionally.

 

The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children

Military families move between assignments on a regular basis.  While reassignments can often be a boon for career personnel, they can be challenging for the children of military families, especially for transitioning from school to school.

The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children seeks to ensure smooth transitions for those children of military families regardless of which states or school districts they are moving between.

All 50 states have signed the Interstate Compact which provides consistent policies affecting transitioning military students.  The Compact safeguards cooperation by federal, state and local education agencies across the country on enforcement, administration, finances, communications, data sharing and training.

But the real importance of the Compact is to provide military connected students the means to address important key educational transition issues encountered by military families including enrollment, placement, attendance, eligibility and graduation.

Children of active duty members of the uniformed services, National Guard and Reserve on active duty orders, commissioned officers of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the United States Public Health Service (USPHS), and members or veterans who are medically discharged or retired for one year are eligible for assistance under the Compact.​

Local Resources:

• Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs
• Kentucky National Guard- Child & Youth Services-The Child and Youth Program serves Kentucky National Guard connected youth ages 6-18. Events include: Summer Youth Camp, Military Child Appreciation Days, Operation Military Cheer Christmas Assistance, Kentucky Teen Council Meetings, State Symposium, Yellow Ribbon Event support and more. 
• Homeless Veterans- KDVA Homeless Veterans Program is a proven, successful program that gets homeless veterans off the streets and provides assistance to those at imminent risk of homelessness by connecting them with resources across the state. Resources include but are not limited to:

  Immediate needs - food, clothing, access to shelter; access to homeless veteran providers; and assistance with Rent and Utilities.

• AppalReD Legal Aid- Providing free legal services to the low-income and vulnerable in eastern and south central Kentucky.

• Veterans Crisis Line- If you are a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one, connect with our caring, qualified responders for confidential help. Many of them are Veterans themselves.

• US Department of Veterans Affairs
• www.dav.org
• www.mtcomp.org

 

Additional information for Military Families:

• Kentucky’s Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission
• Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission (MIC3)
• Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA)
• Kentucky’s Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children – KRS 156.730​

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Military Connected Student Data Collection

As part of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requirements, the U.S. Department of Education requires school districts to identify students who are armed forces family members.  These students will be part of a new accountability subgroup for federal reporting purposes.  This information is voluntarily provided by the parent or guardian.

 

​April – Month of the Military Child

April is designated as the “Month of the Military Child” and dedicated to celebrating all of the United States’ military connected youth.  The initiative began in 1986 under former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger, who designated April as a time to honor and recognize the sacrifices made by military families and especially their children.

 

Purple Up Day!

As part of the national effort to recognize military connected youth, April 15 of each year is designated as “Purple Up Day!”  This day is used for schools and organizations to hold programs and events in honor of military children.  Wearing purple is a visible way to show support and thank military youth for their strength and sacrifices.  Purple is the color that symbolizes all branches of the military, as it is a combination of Army green, Marine Red, and Coast Guard, Air Force, and Navy blue.  The goal of is for military youth to see the support in their school, youth groups, and the community.

 

During Kentucky’s “Purple Up Day!” throughout the Commonwealth, everyone is encouraged to wear purple to show support and thank military youth for their strength and sacrifices. PCCHS proudly participates in Purple Up Day!