(1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "Board of cooperative services" or "BOCES" means a board of cooperative services created and operating pursuant to article 5 of this title 22. (b) "Department" means the department of education created in section 24-1-115. (c) "Military-connected student" means a student enrolled in a school of a school district, district charter school, institute charter school, or BOCES who is a dependent of a: (I) Current or former member of the United States military; (II) United States department of defense active-duty service member; (III) Colorado National Guard member; (IV) United States military reserves member; or (V) Member of the United States military, Colorado National Guard, or United States military reserves killed in the line of duty. (d) "Public school" means a school of a school district, a charter school authorized by a school district pursuant to part 1 of article 30.5 of this title 22, a charter school authorized by the state charter school institute pursuant to part 5 of article 30.5 of this title 22, or a BOCES. (e) "Purple star school program" or "program" means the purple star school program created in subsection (2) of this section. (2) (a) The purple star school program is created in the department. The purpose of the program is to designate as purple star schools public schools that provide services and supports to military-connected students and their families to mitigate academic and social-emotional challenges related to frequent moves, new schools, parental deployments, and different social circles and experiences. (b) The department shall create: (I) An application for a public school to apply for a purple star school designation; (II) A rubric to measure whether a public school qualifies for a purple star school designation, which must identify: (A) The required program implementation steps that correspond to subsection (3) of this section; and (B) Evaluation criteria to provide feedback to a public school on the public school's readiness to implement the program; and (III) A timeline for a public school to apply for and to renew the purple star school designation. (c) The department shall designate a public school as a purple star school if the public school applies and qualifies for the designation pursuant to the rubric described in subsection (2)(b)(II) of this section. (3) (a) To qualify as a purple star school, a public school shall: (I) Designate a staff member as a military liaison, who shall perform the following duties: (A) Identify military-connected students enrolled at the public school; (B) Serve as the point of contact between the public school campus and military- connected students and their families; (C) Determine appropriate school services available to military-connected students; and (D) Determine whether military-connected students have access to the appropriate counseling services, mentorship services, volunteer opportunities, and student support services; (II) Create and maintain on the public school's website an accessible web page that includes resources for military-connected students and their families, including the following information: (A) How to relocate to, enroll in, register for, and transfer records to the public school; (B) Academic planning, course sequences, and advanced courses available at the public school; (C) Counseling and other support services available for military-connected students enrolled at the public school; and (D) The name of the designated military liaison for the public school and the military liaison's duties as described in subsection (3)(a)(I) of this section; (III) Establish and maintain a student-led transition program that assists military- connected students who are relocating to the public school; (IV) Offer professional development for educators and staff on issues related to military- connected students; and (V) Offer at least one of the following initiatives: (A) A public school resolution published on the public school's website showing support for military-connected students and their families; (B) Celebrations in April and November to recognize military children and military families, with associated events hosted by the public school; (C) A partnership with a local military installation that facilitates opportunities for military members to volunteer on the public school's campus, speak at a public school assembly, or host a field trip; or (D) Student-driven clubs and groups that show community-family engagement for military-connected students and their families. (b) The department may establish additional criteria to identify public schools committed to supporting military-connected families, including: (I) Hosting an annual military recognition event; (II) Partnering with a school liaison program manager from a military installation; (III) Supporting projects that connect the public school to the military community; or (IV) Providing outreach to military-connected students and their families. (4) During the first week of April each year, the governor, or the governor's designee, shall recognize each purple star school and present the purple star schools with a certificate. (5) A purple star school designation is valid for three years. (6) The department may promulgate rules for the implementation of this section.
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