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OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 6483 (as amended by House "A")*
AN ACT CONCERNING THE ENROLLMENT OF CHILDREN OF
MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PURPLE STAR SCHOOL PROGRAM.
SUMMARY
This bill requires local and regional boards of education to accept, as
proof of residency for any child of an armed forces member who is
seeking enrollment in a public school, the military orders directing the
member to the state or any other armed forces’ documents indicating
the member’s transfer to the state. By law and under the bill, “armed
forces” means the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and
Air Force and any of their reserve components, including the
Connecticut National Guard when under federal service.
The bill also requires the State Board of Education (SBE), within
available appropriations, to establish a Purple Star School Program to
designate schools that provide specific support services, assistance,
and initiatives for military-connected students and their families.
Under the bill, a “military-connected student” is a public-school
student who (1) is a dependent of a current or former armed forces
member or (2) was a dependent of a member killed in the line of duty.
*House Amendment “A” (1) requires boards of education to accept
other armed forces documents indicating the member’s transfer to the
state as proof of residency, rather than allowing them to specify the
required documentation, and (2) adds the qualification that SBE
establish the Purple Star School Program within available
appropriations.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2021
PURPLE STAR SCHOOL P ROGRAM
Eligible Schools 2021HB-06483-R01-BA.DOCX
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Under the bill, SBE must establish the Purple Star School program
within available appropriations and award a Purple Star School
designation to any public school that does the following:
1. employs a staff member as the school’s military liaison, as
described below;
2. compiles and posts on its website specified information and
resources available to military-connected students and their
families;
3. provides a transition program for military-connected students
that is student-led, where appropriate;
4. provides in-service training or professional development for
staff members on issues related to military-connected students;
and
5. offers at least one of the initiatives described below.
School Military Liaison. Under the bill, the school’s military
liaison’s duties must include (1) identifying military-connected
students enrolled there, (2) serving as the point of contact between the
school and these students and their families, (3) identifying
appropriate school services available to military-connected students,
and (4) assisting in coordinating school programs relevant to military-
connected students.
Website Information and Resources. To qualify for the
designation, a school must post on its website, at a minimum:
1. the registration process for enrolling and transferring student
records to the school;
2. academic planning, including curriculum and advanced
placement classes offered at the school;
3. counseling and other support services available for military-
connected students enrolled there; and 2021HB-06483-R01-BA.DOCX
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4. the school’s military liaison’s contact information.
Initiatives. To qualify for the designation, the school must provide
at least one of the following:
1. a resolution showing support for military-connected students
and families;
2. recognition of the Month of the Military Child or Military
Family Month, with relevant school-hosted events; or
3. a partnership with a local military installation providing
opportunities for active duty armed forces members to
volunteer at the school, speak at an assembly, or host a field
trip.
Application Process
Under the bill, boards of education may apply to SBE for the
designation for any school under their jurisdiction that meets the
eligibility requirements described above.
Partnership With the State Department of Education (SDE)
The bill allows boards of education to partner with SDE to provide
assistance or materials for the initiatives or in-service training and
professional development described above.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Veterans’ Affairs Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 17 Nay 0 (03/18/2021)
Appropriations Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 49 Nay 0 (05/10/2021)