A bipartisan legislative effort is being made for a bill that would require the Florida Department of Education to establish in the state a program to help military-connected children during new school transitions, NWF Daily News reported.
Patt Maney
State Reps. Patt Maney, R-Shalimar, and Andrew Learned, D-Brandon, are sponsors of House Bill 429.
The bill would lead to the Purple Star School program, which is “designed to help 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,” according to the website of program advocate nonprofit Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC).
Military-connected children are defined as children of active-duty, Reserve or National Guard personnel.
The program is currently in effect or development in 11 states.
The bill – in the Secondary Education & Career Development Subcommittee – would also require the education department “to set criteria for schools’ participation in the program, adopt procedures for designation as a Purple Star School, and to report annually to the Legislature on the program’s status in Florida,” NWF Daily News reported.
