O F F I C E O F L E G I S L A T I V E R E S E A R C H
P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
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PA 21-86—sHB 6483
Veterans' Affairs Committee
Appropriations Committee
AN ACT CONCERNING TH E ENROLLMENT OF CHIL DREN OF
MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF A P URPLE STAR SCHOOL PR OGRAM
SUMMARY: This act 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 act, “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 act 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 act, 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.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2021
PURPLE STAR SCHOOL PROGRAM
Eligible Schools
Under the act, 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 act, 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- O L R P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
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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
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 act, 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 act 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.