Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo
California Department of Education
Official Letter
California Department of Education
Official Letter
August 4, 2021

Dear County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and School Principals:

2021–22 California Purple Star Program

The California Department of Education (CDE) is pleased to announce the California Purple Star Program. The Purple Star Program is a way to publicly recognize and designate schools that are the most committed and best equipped to meet the unique needs of military-connected students and their families. 

The Purple Star Program supports military-connected children as they relocate to new schools due to a parent’s change in duty station. By setting standards and publicly designating military-friendly schools, the Purple Star Program helps schools respond to the educational and social-emotional challenges military-connected children face during their transition to a new school and keep them on track to be college, workforce, and life-ready. The Purple Star Program’s true value derives from its potential to:

  • Centralize and make knowledge accessible,
  • Develop stakeholder networks, and
  • Support schools in cultivating and communicating cultural competency in supporting military-connected families.

Application materials and instructions on how to apply for this designation are available on the CDE Purple Star web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/pf/mc/capurplestar.asp.

If you have any questions regarding the Purple Star Program, please contact the High School Innovations and Initiatives Office at 916-319-0893 or PurpleStar@cde.ca.gov.

Sincerely,

Tony Thurmond
State Superintendent of Public Instruction

TT:lr
2021-01631
Last Reviewed: Thursday, June 13, 2024

Recently Posted in Letters

  • Inclusive Practices for All Cultural Observances (added 17-Jun-2026)
    Inclusive practices for all students’ cultural observances, Summer 2026.
  • 2026 Exceptional Education Leader Recommendations (added 12-Jun-2026)
    Letter to County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and School Principals regarding exceptional education leader recommendations requested for the 2026 Exceptional Education Leaders Recognition Program.
  • AAPI Heritage Month Kickoff Webinar (added 13-May-2026)
    Letter to county and district superintendents, charter school administrators, and school principals regarding Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month kickoff webinar: Living History at Angel Island Immigration Station.
  • 2027 California Schools to Watch Program (added 13-May-2026)
    Letter to County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and Middle School Principals regarding an invitation to apply for the 2027 California Schools to Watch program.
  • Invitation to SSPI's Literacy Leadership Summit (added 12-May-2026)
    Letter to county and district superintendents and charter school administrators regarding an invitation to State Superintendent Thurmond's Literacy Leadership Summit.