Nevada Purple Star School Award

Application


The Nevada Purple Star School Award is a designation provided to military-friendly schools that display a major commitment to serving military-connected students and families. Nevada Purple Star Schools receive a special Purple Star recognition to display in their buildings, are recognized on the Nevada Department of Education webpage and social media platforms, and are highlighted by the various military installations across the state.


Each school Point of Contact (POC) is required to complete a professional development training focused on military families prior to submitting this application. The Nevada Military Children in Our Schools professional development training can be found in Canvas and Google. The certificate of completion must be included in the application submission.


Please submit your application electronically and direct questions to


KellyLynn Charles

kcharles@doe.nv.gov

702-668-4330


You will receive an email acknowledging receipt of your application within one to three business days.

 

 

Eligible Applicants

All Nevada public, private, and charter schools.


2026 Application Timeline


Opens: Wednesday, May 1, 2025

Closes: Monday, February 9, 2026


Purple Star Schools Announced: April 2026

 

 

Application

 

Please have the following items ready to upload. Once you begin this form, you cannot save and return.


  • Point of Contact information and certificate of completion
  • Purple Star Advocate contact information
  • Implementation team members' names and positions
  • Student Led Transition team program information
  • School military student demographic information
  • Evidence of completion of all required support activities
  • Evidence of completion of at least 1 optional activity


Please see Module 3 of the required course Military Children in Our Schools for assistance with the necessary documentation.

 

 

School Information

 
 
 
 
 
Phone
 

 

Point of Contact Information

Please provide the contact information for your Purple Star School Point of Contact (POC).


The POC acts as a liaison between the Department of Education and the school. The POC will:

  • complete the Military Children in Our Schools course
  • identify and inform teachers and staff of the military-connected students in their classrooms
  • provide ongoing professional development to staff on various aspects of military culture and educational needs
  • coordinate the annual Purple Star School activities
  • complete the annual renewal form
 
 
 
 
Phone
 

 

Please share the name and email address of your Purple Star Advocate.


The Purple Star Advocate is the staff member who will collaborate with the School Liaison Officer, site administration, and Department of Education to resolve Compact related issues.


This may be the POC, an administrator, counselor or other staff member familiar with, or willing to become familiar with, the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. For middle and high schools, we recommend the Advocate be a counselor.

 
 

 

Implementation Team

List at least four members of your community, in addition to the point of contact, with at least one being a school employee, who will form your Purple Star School implementation team to assist the Point of Contact with implementing the annual activities. Include their positions and military connections.


Note: Spaces are provided for 8 team members and will populate as you go. Please attach any additional members in the file upload section.

 

 
 
 
 

 

School Demographics

We are aware of the challenges and limitations in the data collection of military-connected students.


A lack of data at the time of submission does not impact your application review. It is acceptable to not have this data when you apply.


To the best of your knowledge, please provide the following information. Please contact us with questions.

 

This refers to all students PreK - 12+ with at least 1 active-duty parent, including National Guard and Reserves.


JROTC students are not military connected students unless their parent meets this criteria.

 

This refers to all students PreK - 12+ with at least 1 veteran parent, including National Guard and Reserves.

 

This refers only to the number of students Kinder -12th grade who are children of

  • Active-duty service members,
  • National Guard & Reserve on Title 10 Orders,
  • Veterans medically discharged or retired for one year, and
  • Service members who perished on active duty within the past year.
 

Please select all that apply.

 

Please include any challenges you encountered.

 
 

 

Required Military Support Activities

Purple Star schools must complete all the required activities annually to show their support of military families.


Please indicate completion status of each required support activity below. Please note the "in Progress" option is limited to a few, specific activities.


For each item, evidence (such as pictures, videos, flyers, weblinks, descriptions, and plans of future activities) must be uploaded below.


Incomplete or unclear documentation may result in your application being ineligible for the award.


Please see the Military Children in Our Schools course for guidance on completing the application.


All activities refer to events geared toward military connected students. While JROTC students may participate, this is not a JROTC award.

 

School must have an assigned staff Point of Contact (POC) for military-connected students and families.

  • Provided above. No further information needed.
 

The Purple Star Advocate is the staff member who will collaborate with the School Liaison Officer, site administration, and Department of Education to resolve Compact related issues.


This may be the POC, an administrator, counselor or other staff member familiar with, or willing to become familiar with, the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. For middle and high schools, we recommend the Advocate be a counselor.


  • Provided above. No further information needed.
 

The school’s Point of Contact completed the Nevada Military Children in Our Schools professional development course in Canvas or Google.


  • Please attach the Point of Contact’s Certificate of Completion or ask KellyLynn to verify completion if you were unable to access your certificate.
 

Professional development regarding special considerations for military students and their families was included during a staff meeting or professional learning day. All school staff are expected to receive information on military students and their families.


  • Please attach agendas, PowerPoints or other presentation materials, and any additional items to demonstrate how information on military-connected students was delivered to faculty, staff, and families.
 

The school held special celebration activities for the Month of the Military Child in April.


  • For celebrations that are completed, please provide photos, agendas, programs, etc. that clearly show the celebration and how military children were recognized.
  • For celebrations that are in progress and planned for April of this school year, please provide an outline or calendar of the planned activities. The plan should provide a clear picture of when the event(s) will take place and how military-connected children will be recognized.
 

The school created, maintains, and coordinates an active student-led transition team to provide peer support for enrolling and withdrawing military-connected students. This group should contain at least one military-connected student and at least one military-connected adult.


  • Please describe the transitional program,
  • who facilitates the program (staff and/or students),
  • how students are identified and encouraged to participate in the program,
  • and how the following topics are addressed:

                            • Welcoming and acclimating a new military-connected student.

                            • Educational support for military-connected students, including special populations.

                            • Social-emotional support for military-connected students

 
 
 

The school maintains a designated Purple Star page on the school’s website featuring resources for military families.


  • Provide the URL to your published Purple Star School webpage. The link to the webpage should be easily found from the homepage of the webpage.
  • For web pages still being built, please include your school's main URL and attach a document that contains where the Military Family Resource page will be linked from, the wording, images that may be used, and list of links and resources.


Please enter the URL here:

 
 

 

Optional Military Support Activities

Purple Star schools must complete at least one of the optional activities annually but are strongly encouraged to do more to show their support of military families.


Please select

  • Completed” if your school has implemented the activity,
  • In Progress” if your school plans to implement this school year,
  • "On Hold" if your school is not selecting this activity this year, or
  • "Not Planned" if your school has no plan to implement this in the future.


Note: "Completed" and "In Progress" selections must have the required evidence uploaded below. Incomplete or unclear documentation may result in your application being ineligible for the award.


Please see the Military Children in Our Schools course for guidance on completing the application.


All activities refer to events geared toward military connected students. While JROTC students may participate, this is not a JROTC award.

 

Numerous additional staff members completed the Nevada Military Children in Our Schools professional development course.


  • These certificates do not need to be uploaded.
  • Please ask staff members to provide the school’s name on the course evaluation to assist the facilitators with verification.
 

Parents and/or community members completed the Nevada Military Children in Our Schools professional development course.


  • These certificates do not need to be uploaded.
  • Please ask community members to provide the school’s name on the course evaluation to the facilitators with verification.
 

The school board passed a resolution publicizing the school’s support for military students and families.


  • Please attach the school board agenda and/or meeting minutes that show the resolution.
 

The school holds fundraisers to support military veterans and active-duty members.


  • For fundraisers that have already taken place, please provide photos, agendas, programs, etc. that clearly show the fundraiser and the organization that received the donation.
  • For fundraisers that are in progress, please provide an outline of the planned activity that clearly describes the fundraising processes and the organization receiving the donation.
 

The school has a U.S. Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) program in place.


Please note: The presence of a JROTC program signifies a welcoming attitude toward the military and military culture, but the award is not specifically about JROTC students or the JROTC program.


  • For active JROTC programs, no documentation is necessary.
  • For planned programs, please provide your submitted JROTC application.
 

The school hosts a military appreciation night.


  • For military appreciation nights that have already taken place, please provide photos, programs, flyers, invitations, etc. that clearly show the military appreciation at the sporting event.
  • For military appreciation nights that have not yet happened, please provide a description of the planned activity that clearly outlines how the military members will be shown appreciation at the event. You may also include flyers and/or invitations advertising the future event.
 

It is recommended that this activity be completed and not planned.


  • Please provide photos of the military display.
  • Should a large display be planned (Purple Star room, military-connected book display, etc.), please provide the plans for the display. Include sketches, book or supply orders, and an explanation of why the display is planned at this time.
 

The school hosts an annual military-friendly program. The program may have occurred on Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day, or Patriot Day (9/11).


Completed and evidence is uploaded

In Progress

On Hold

  • Not Planned
 

The school participates in an annual Memorial Day or Veteran’s Day parade.


  • For parade participation that has already taken place, please provide photos, programs, flyers, registration confirmation, etc. that clearly show the school’s involvement in the parade.
  • For parade participation that has not yet happened, please provide an outline of the planned participation. You may also include registration confirmation and/or flyers advertising the school’s involvement in the parade.
 

Staff attended/viewed webinars focused on Purple Star Schools or Military-Connected families other than the Nevada “Military Children in Our Schools” course


  • Please provide the webinar name, the staff members, the dates of attendance, and/or registration confirmation. You may also provide certificates of completion.
 

The school offers all Juniors and Seniors in the school the option to take the ASVAB. Information can be found here: https://www.asvabprogram.com/ 


  • Please provide the information/flyers provided to students encouraging them to take the ASVAB, documents provided on why the ASVAB is a valuable test to take, documentation of collaborating with military recruiters to facilitate the ASVAB, and the number of juniors and seniors who took the ASVAB within the last year.
 

The Nevada Purple Star Program also allows schools to develop their own activities to celebrate their military-connected families.


  • Please provide a document explaining the activity and include any photos, agendas, flyers, timelines, names of those involved, etc.
 

The school completed the necessary application and coursework to become Chapter 35 accredited with the VA.


  • Please provide documentation that shows the accreditation is complete (website link, email communication, etc.)
 

Graduating seniors wear purple cords to designate they are a military child.


  • Please provide photos, programs, or other documentation that show the graduation military children were given and wore purple cords.
 

 

Written Responses

 

If awarded the Purple Star School designation, how will you continue to provide professional learning to the faculty, staff, families, and community each year?

 
 

What questions do you still have and/or what information do you need to enhance your support of military-connected students and families?

 
 

 

Required Evidence of Activities

 

Please upload the required evidence for each required activity and optional activity.


You may upload a single, combined document or multiple documents. There is a limit of 10 documents.


To assist the application review team, please label your individual documents to match the activity/activities they align to.

Drop your files here
 

 

Certification