The Wyoming Purple Star School Program is a state-wide initiative, mandated by Wyoming Statute W.S. 21‑3‑134, designed to provide comprehensive support for military families. Its main objective is to guarantee seamless educational transitions for military-connected students, who typically move six to nine times during their K-12 education, encountering varying school cultures, curricula, and social environments.

The Wyoming Purple Star School designation signifies a school’s strong commitment to meeting the academic and emotional needs of these students during both relocations and deployments. For families, this designation offers assurance of a military-friendly and supportive educational setting.

The Value for Military Families

The Purple Star School Program honors the sacrifices of our military families by setting high standards of commitment for schools and recognizing K-12 institutions (public and private) that successfully support military-connected students through the instability of high mobility.

The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) awards the Purple Star designation to schools that implement specific, measurable support systems:

The school appoints at least one staff member as a dedicated point of contact and advocate. This liaison assists military families by:

  • Identifying military-connected students.
  • Serving as the family’s primary school contact.
  • Coordinating programs and services to assist the student.
  • Providing support for deployment challenges, transition planning, and enrollment.

Schools offer simplified enrollment procedures and expedited transfer of records to ensure academic continuity. This includes dedicated academic assistance, counseling, and extracurricular activities tailored for military-connected students.

The school maintains an accessible webpage with essential resources, including information on:

  • Relocation, enrollment, and transferring records.
  • Academic planning, course sequences, and advanced classes.
  • Counseling and support services.

To combat feelings of isolation and foster belonging, Purple Star Schools establish peer support groups, mentorship programs, student transition programs, and family events.

Educators and staff receive training on the unique challenges military families face, particularly the impact of deployments and frequent relocations.

Military families form the backbone of our nation’s defense, providing crucial support to the service members who ensure our security and safety. April is recognized as the Month of the Military Child, also known as Purple Up! For Military Kids, a time when states and school districts across the country honor the vital role of military children. During this month, special events are organized, and individuals are encouraged to wear purple to show support for the children of service members as their parents fulfill their duty to our nation.

Purple Up! Toolkit

Participating Schools

Wyoming is home to over 2,000 military-connected students, part of the more than 1.1 million nationwide. For military families, managing school transitions is a high priority. The Purple Star Program supports schools in addressing the specific academic and social-emotional needs that arise from frequent moves and parental deployments. By providing this stability and these essential resources, the program ensures military-connected students have what they need to succeed.

What If My Child’s School Isn’t Designated

Mention your interest in the Wyoming Purple Star School program to the Principal if your child’s school is not currently participating.

Contact
Ken Reynolds

Military Support Manager

Transparency