2025-26 Purple Star Campus Designation (PSCD) Application and Month of Military Child (MOMC)

The Purple Star Campus Designation (PSCD) recognizes Texas school systems that show support and commitment to meeting the unique needs of military-connected students and their families. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) will accept applications for the 2025-26 school year from April 4, 2025, through June 6, 2025, from campuses demonstrating they have met the established criteria:

1. Designating a campus-based military liaison and conducting professional development for campus staff on topics related to military-connected students;
2. Creating and maintaining an easily accessible webpage that includes information for military-connected students and their families;
3. Implementing a campus transition program; and
4. Offering at least one of the following initiatives:
   • A resolution showing support for military-connected students and families;
   • Participation in Month of the Military Child or Military Family Appreciation Month; or
   • Partnership with a school liaison officer to encourage and provide opportunities for active-duty military members to volunteer in the local schools, speak at a school assembly or host a school field trip.

Currently, 692 campuses across the state have earned this unique designation as a Purple Star Campus. Please visit the Purple Star Campus Designation website for the list of previously awarded campuses that received the designation.

Any Texas public school can become a Purple Star Campus, regardless of the size of its military-connected student population. Districts are encouraged to support campuses and help them meet the criteria for PSCD status. Applications are accepted on an annual basis, and the designation lasts for two (2) years. After the two-year period, campuses that were previously awarded the designation must re-apply to maintain their special designation as a Purple Star Campus. To see the rule that supports this designation, visit 19 TAC Chapter 61, Subchapter FF. Commissioner’s Rules Concerning Veterans and Military Dependents. 

Available PSCD Trainings and Resources

TEA hosted a PSCD application Interest Meeting on March 19, 2025, to assist school systems in learning how to complete their 2025-26 PSCD application. A recording of the Interest Meeting and a downloadable PDF copy of the Interest Meeting presentation are available. 

Additionally, TEA’s Military-Connected Student Program has developed numerous resources to support school systems in understanding and strengthening the requirements and implementation of PSCD. 

• 2025-26 PSCD Application Exemplar Recording and Application Exemplar PDF
• TEA Learn Course: Purple Star Rise
• PSCD Application Overview and Checklist (PDF)
• PSCD Application Guide (PDF)
• PSCD Campus Self-Assessment: Application Rubric (PDF)
• PSCD Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)

For more information and additional PSCD resources, please visit the Purple Star Campus Designation website.

April is Month of Military Child (MOMC)

Governor Greg Abbott has proclaimed April as the Month of the Military Child (MOMC). MOMC is a time to honor the sacrifices made by military-connected children worldwide.  On April 11, 2025, ‘Purple Up! For Military Kids’ will be celebrated to show support and thank military children for their strength and sacrifices. Wearing purple on this day is a visible way to show support and thank military-connected youth for their strength and sacrifices. Purple indicates that all branches of the military are supported: 

• Air Force – Blue
• Army – Green
• Navy – Blue
• Marine – Red
• Coast Guard – Blue

Together, these all combine as a single color = Purple. 

For more information, toolkits, and ideas on how to celebrate Month of the Military Child, visit the following links:

• Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission (MIC3)
• The Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC): Month of the Military Child Toolkit
• U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA)

Contact Information

If you have any questions concerning the PSCD application process and/or supporting military-connected students, please contact us by sending an email to MilitaryConnectedStudents@tea.texas.gov.