California Purple Star Schools
Recognizing the important role of public schools in supporting military-connected students and their families.About the Purple Star School Designation
The California Purple Star School Designation Program (Purple Star Program) seeks to reduce the burden on military-connected students and their families by articulating the most critical transition supports for military-connected students and their families by publicly designating schools that meet certain requirements. The program signals which schools are the most committed and best equipped to meet their unique needs.
The Purple Star Program was designed to help mitigate the challenges of high mobility by setting standards for and publicly designating military-friendly schools. The Purple Star School Designation Program was codified in 2024, California Education Code 51255.
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.
California Purple Star Schools
Designated Purple Star Schools List (XLSX; Updated Mar-2025)
California Purple Star Schools 2026 Application
2026 Purple Star School Designation Program Request for Applications (DOCX)
Timeline of Activities
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
October 8, 2025 |
Release of the 2026 Purple Star School Designation Program Request for Applications |
November 21, 2025 |
Application Deadline for the 2026 Purple Star School Designation Program Request for Applications |
January 2026 |
Release of the 2026 Purple Star School Designation Program Request for Applications |