Michigan lawmakers are working to become the 38th state to host a Purple Star program in schools, which would help accommodate students who often change schools due to parental military service.
Last week, the Michigan House of Representatives passed House Bill 4027, which would create the framework for Michigan to certify schools to ensure resources and information exist to help military children who relocate often.
Rep. Dale Zorn, R-Onstead, introduced the legislation, which now moves to the Senate. It codifies requirements for the Department of Education, despite the program already existing based on a prior state budget that allocated over $1 million, according to the Department of Defense.
“This crucial piece of legislation will create a structured support system targeting the unique challenges faced by children in military families as they move from school to school when their parent relocates for their job,” Zorn said in a press release last week. “We must ensure they have the tools they need to thrive educationally and socially.”
“Moving every two to three years wears heavily on kids,” Zorn added. “Ensuring they have a critical point of contact in these transitions is essential to ensuring they do not get lost in the shuffle.”
The bill requires the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) to establish a program and prepare for its implementation by Jan. 1, 2026.
Under the bill, schools would need to satisfy several requirements, including designated staff, easily accessible website information for families, specialized staff training and other wraparound support for pupils of military families.
A fiscal analysis of the bill indicated that it would increase costs for the state but would not fiscally impact the local school districts, intermediate school districts and charter schools.
“The state would incur costs through the requirements to create and administer the Purple Star Program,” the bill analysis said. “MDE has noted that, although the program has already been created, the department would require 0.5 [full-time equivalent] positions and between $100,000 and $200,000 annually to manage and operate the program.”
The bill says students eligible for the program would be the children of current, former or deceased members of the armed forces. The legislation would apply to students whose parents are in the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Space Force, Coast Guard, or reserve armed forces such as the National Guard.
According to the Department of Defense’s Military State Policy Source, there are only six states that have not taken any action toward establishing a Purple Star Program: Rhode Island, Iowa, Oregon, New York, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
The Virginia Department of Education granted special Purple Star status to 190 public and private schools in November, touting its early adoption of the program.
“Virginia was the second state, after Ohio, in establishing Purple Star school recognition,” according to the Virginia Department of Education.