S 5218: Authorizes the commissioner of education to implement a purple star schools program to recognize schools and school districts which demonstrate a commitment to assisting military-connected students and their families.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 5218 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN SENATE February 19, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sen. SCARCELLA-SPANTON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to authorizing the commissioner of education to implement a purple star schools program The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Section 305 of the education law is amended by adding a new 2 subdivision 63 to read as follows: 3 63. The commissioner shall establish a "purple star schools program" 4 to recognize schools and school districts which demonstrate a commitment 5 to assisting military-connected students and their families. 6 a. The commissioner, or such commissioner's designee, shall designate 7 a school as a "purple star school" upon application of a school or 8 school district which: 9 (i) has designated a staff member as a military liaison whose duties 10 include: (A) identifying military-connected students enrolled in the 11 district; (B) serving as the point of contact between the school or 12 school district and such students; (C) determining appropriate campus 13 services available to military-connected students; and (D) assisting in 14 coordinating campus programs relevant to military-connected students; 15 (ii) maintains on its website an easily accessible page that includes 16 resources for military-connected students and their families, including 17 information regarding: (A) relocation to, enrollment at, registration 18 at, and transferring records to the campus; (B) academic planning, 19 course sequences, and advanced classes available at the campus; (C) 20 counseling and other support services available for military-connected 21 students enrolled at the campus; (D) the military liaison designated 22 under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph, and the liaison's duties under 23 such subparagraph; and (E) the state military family education liaison 24 designated pursuant to section thirty-three hundred eight of this chap- 25 ter; EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD08231-01-5 
 S. 5218 2 1 (iii) maintains a transition program led by students, where appropri- 2 ate, that assists military-connected students in transitioning into the 3 campus; 4 (iv) offers professional development for staff members on issues 5 related to military-connected students; 6 (v) for purposes of monitoring academic progress of military-connected 7 students, includes an identifier on the student record of a military- 8 connected student and include in the basic educational data system 9 reports (BEDS), the number of military-connected students enrolled in 10 such school or school district; and 11 (vi) the board of education or other person or entity authorized to 12 act on behalf of the school or school district has either: (A) issued a 13 resolution, proclamation, or other official statement of support for 14 military-connected students and their families; or (B) issued a resol- 15 ution, proclamation, or other official statement recognizing the month 16 of April as the "month of the military child" and/or the month of Novem- 17 ber as "military family month" and has hosted events on campus celebrat- 18 ing either or both; or (C) entered into a partnership with a military 19 installation, national guard armory or reserve center that provides 20 opportunities for military members to volunteer at the campus, speak at 21 an assembly, host a field trip, or participate in such other educational 22 activities as the commissioner or such commissioner's designee deems 23 appropriate. 24 b. A school or school district may partner with a third party to 25 provide those services and initiatives specified under paragraph a of 26 this subdivision. 27 c. The commissioner may promulgate rules to effectuate the purposes of 28 this subdivision. 29 d. As used in this subdivision, "military-connected student" means a 30 school-aged child enrolled in kindergarten through twelfth grade in the 31 household of an active duty member of the United States military, a 32 reserve force of the United States military, the organized militia of 33 this state or any other state. 34 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.