FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 6, 20222
MIC3, OPI Accepting Applications for Montana Purple Star Schools and Champions
HELENA, MT – The Montana Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3) and the Montana Office of Public Instruction are accepting applications and nominations for Montana’s Purple Star Schools and Purple Star Champions Awards.
The Purple Star Awards recognize Montana schools and individual champions committed to supporting military-connected children and their families. MIC3 and OPI are opening the application process for the third annual award season to designate Montana Purple Star Schools. This is the second school year Montana’s MIC3 will be accepting nominations for the Purple Star Champions Award.
“The Montana Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission is incredibly proud to put a spotlight on the passionate people in our communities that go above and beyond to serve our military children and their families,” Commissioner Ray Shaw, Sergeant (R). “Often military family’s needs can fall between the cracks. This award helps lift up both our military families and those that serve them.”
“It is my honor to recognize the schools and individuals in our communities that have dedicated themselves to serving our military children and families,” State Superintendent Elsie Arntzen said. “On average a military-connected student can move 6 to 9 times from kindergarten through high school graduation. It is Montana’s duty to not only fully recognize this sacrifice and the hardships that come with it, but to build communities around these young heroes equipping them with every tool they need to reduce hardship and increase opportunities for success.”
During the 2021-22 school year six schools were added to the distinguished list of Montana’s Purple Star School Awardees. These schools have demonstrated a willingness to go above and beyond being military friendly, through a maintained commitment to serve their military students and families they continually honor the sacrifice military families make. These schools have also:
- committed to identifying a point-of-contact for military-connected students
- offered and participated in training for teachers and staff
- offered the most up-to-date resources
- celebrated military-connected students at an annual school-wide event
Similar to the Purple Star School Award, the Purple Star Champion Award will be a designation for a military family-friendly administrator, educator, community supporter, or school staff member that has shown a major commitment to military-connected students and/or families.
Nominations for both awards will be accepted from September 15, 2022, to November 30, 2022. The awardee will be announced in December 2022. Please visit here to consider nominating any schools or champions for a Purple Star Award.
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Questions? Contact:
Brian.O'Leary, Communications Director
The OPI is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation, require an alternate format, or have questions concerning accessibility, contact the OPI ADA Coordinator, 406-444-3161, opiada@mt.gov, Relay Service: 711.
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