SENATE BILL REPORT
SHB 1346
As of March 14, 2023
Title: An act relating to creating the purple star award.
Brief Description: Creating the purple star award.
Sponsors: House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Shavers, Berry, Couture, Leavitt, Morgan, Simmons, Timmons, Lekanoff, Paul and Donaghy).
Brief History: Passed House: 2/16/23, 96-2.
Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 3/15/23.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Establishes the Purple Star Award to recognize school districts and schools that demonstrate educational and social-emotional support to students of military service members as they face transitions to a new school.
  • Authorizes the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction to collaborate with a state agency or a non-profit organization to establish and administer the Purple Star Award.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION
Staff: Alexandra Fairfortune (786-7416) and Dana Tietjen (786-7784)
Background:

Purple Star School Program. The Purple Star School program is designated to respond to the educational and social-emotional challenges military connected children face.  State-sponsored Purple Star School programs primarily designate schools as military friendly once they demonstrate a major commitment to military connected students and families.  Multiple states have enacted the Purple Star School program. 

 

Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. In 2009, Washington adopted the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (Compact) for public schools.  The purpose of the Compact is to remove barriers to educational success imposed on children of military families.  The Compact addresses student placement, on-time graduation, enforcement of administrative rules, and flexibility and cooperation within the educational system.
Summary of Bill:

The Purple Star Award is created to recognize school districts and schools that demonstrate educational and social-emotional support to students of military service members as they face transitions to a new school.  The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) may collaborate with a state agency or a non-profit organization that has experience serving the needs of a diverse K to 12 population to establish and administer the Purple Star Award.  The Purple Star Award must be awarded every two years starting in 2024, and qualifying school districts will receive a purple star recognition to display on site. 

 

A school district must be considered if it applies and completes all the required activities, and at least one of the optional activities.  To be considered for the Purple Star Award, a school district must: 

  • have a staff point of contact for military students and families who works jointly with the state military education liaison, completes professional development on special considerations for military students and families under relevant state and federal law, and identifies and informs of any special considerations for military connected students; and 
  • maintains a dedicated webpage featuring resources for military families. 

 

The optional activities are: 

  • having professional development for additional staff on special consideration for military students and families;
  • the school district board of directors passes a resolution publicizing the schools support for military children and families; or
  • the school district hosts a military recognition event that demonstrates a military friendly culture.

 

OSPI must make the following information available on its website:

  • a simple application for a school district to submit for consideration, including evidence of meeting the requirements;
  • a timeline for submittal and announcement of the award recipients; and
  • the criteria being used to review applications and determine which school districts receive the award.
Appropriation: The bill contains a null and void clause requiring specific funding be provided in an omnibus appropriation act.
Fiscal Note: Available.  New fiscal note requested on March 13, 2023.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.