A bill for an act requiring the director of the department of education to develop and administer a purple star school initiative.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Directs the state Department of Education to create a Purple Star School Initiative to recognize and boost support for schools serving military-connected students and families.

Committee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 771.

#education #military #schools

Overview

Bill Number: HSB 45 (renumbered to HF 771)

Title: A bill for an act requiring the director of the department of education to develop and administer a purple star school initiative.

Subject: Education, Military, Schools

Introduced: January 21, 2025

Current Status: Committee report approving bill; renumbered as HF 771

Primary Focus: Create a Purple Star School Initiative to recognize schools that support military-connected students and their families, with the goal of increasing available support.

Purpose and Intent

Directs the director of the Department of Education to develop and administer a Purple Star School Initiative.

Purpose: Recognize applicant schools in the state that have demonstrated a commitment to supporting military-connected students and the families of such students.

Goal: Increase the amount of support that schools provide to military-connected students and their families.

Key Provisions (as introduced)

New subsection 69 added to Section 256.9 (Code 2025).

Establishes a framework for a Purple Star School Initiative administered by the Department of Education.

Recognition for applicant schools that show a demonstrated commitment to military-connected students and their families.

Emphasis on increasing the level of support provided by schools to these students and families.

Note: The text provided does not specify detailed criteria, eligibility requirements, award categories, or funding arrangements. Implementation criteria and administrative details would be determined by the department through the established initiative.

Affected Parties

School districts and non-district schools administering public education in the state.

Military-connected students and the families of these students (as beneficiaries of increased school support).

The Iowa Department of Education (or the applicable state DOE, per jurisdiction) responsible for developing and administering the initiative.

Implementation and Timeline

Subcommittee recommendations: January 23, 2025.

Subcommittee vote: January 22 or 23, 2025 (subcommittee meeting noted).

Committee actions:

January 28, 2025: Committee report recommending passage; vote: Yeas 22, Nays 0, Excused 1.
March 5, 2025: Committee report approving the bill; renumbered as HF 771.

Next steps (pending floor action): Would move to full chamber consideration under the HF 771 designation, subject to passage by the legislature and any conference or amendments as needed.

Potential Impact

Elevates focus on the needs of military-connected students and families within state schools.

Encourages districts to enhance supports (e.g., transition resources, counseling, communications with families, and programs benefiting military-connected students).

Creates an official recognition program to incentivize and acknowledge schools that implement strong supports for this student group.

Specific criteria, funding, and long-term implementation details are not provided in the current text and would be developed by the Department of Education as the initiative is implemented.

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