Local legislator chief authors bill to create voluntary Purple Star Schools Program

In order to help support military families, State District 23A Representative Peggy Bennett, a Republican from Albert Lea, has chief-authored a bill that would create a voluntary Purple Star Schools program for Minnesota schools.  Representative Bennett talked further about the legislation with KAUS News….

Under the proposed legislation, if a Minnesota school seeks to be awarded and designated a Purple Star School, certain military family-supportive criteria must be met. These include requirements such as designating a staff member to serve as a military liaison who helps identify and serve as the point of contact for military-connected students at the school and helps appropriate for them school services and coordinating school programs; maintaining easily accessible information on the school website concerning relocation, academic, counseling and support information for the students and their families; offering professional development opportunities for staff members on issues related to military-connected students; and other support strategies.