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Explore How States are Supporting Military Families
Across the country, states are advancing thoughtful policies, programs, and partnerships that strengthen support for military and veteran-connected families. This toolkit brings together those efforts in one shared, accessible place.
Select a state on the map to explore local initiatives, or browse the full database below to discover ideas and opportunities being activated nationwide.
Darker shaded states are a Do Your Part state.
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Appoint a Compact Commissioner in a timely fashion and designate a point of contact embedded within each state’s Department of Education.
Populations: Military Children Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Dependent Child Education, Education
South Carolina Education Oversight Committee 2024 Military Connected Students Report
South Carolina uses the Education Oversight Committee’s 2024 report to assess outcomes, identify gaps, and inform policy decisions that improve educational stability and school transitions for military-connected students and their families.
Populations: Military Children Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Dependent Child Education, Education
Virginia provides guidance and resources to help military-connected families navigate special education services, ensuring continuity of support and smoother school transitions for students with disabilities.
Populations: Military Children Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Dependent Child Education, Education
The Department of Defense STARBASE program provides hands-on STEM education for youth on military installations, helping students build science, technology, engineering, and math skills through real-world learning experiences.
Populations: Military Children Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Dependent Child Education, Education
Virginia allows military-connected students transferring between schools to receive flexibility in course completion and graduation requirements, helping ensure timely high school graduation despite relocations.
Populations: Military Children Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Dependent Child Education, Education
Caregiving Youth Student Leadership Program
South Carolina supports students who serve as caregivers, including military-connected youth, through leadership development, academic support, and resources that help them remain engaged in school and navigate educational transitions.
Populations: Caregivers Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Dependent Child Education, Education
Improves the Arkansas Military Child School Transitions Act of 2021. Allows receiving districts to prepare in advance for special education services; eliminates the one-year limitation for Gold Star families eligible for services; and develops the Purple Star School Program.
Populations: Military Children, Survivor Families Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Dependent Child Education, Education
Military‑connected students who qualify for in‑state postsecondary tuition under §§ 23‑7.4‑203, 23‑7.4‑204, or 23‑7.4‑205 are all eligible to receive the College Opportunity Fund (COF) stipend. These provisions ensure COF eligibility for veterans, VACAA‑covered individuals, and community college military, veteran, and dependent classifications under current law.
Populations: Military Children, Veteran Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Dependent Child Education, Education
Enable online school enrollment to enhance the “warm hand-off” between the sending
and receiving districts, and to minimize disruptions in special education services
Populations: Active Duty, Military Children Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Dependent Child Education, Education
Aims to provide additional training and support for the children of National Guard Soldiers via programming and events that are co-sponsored and co-hosted around the nation in conjuction with out State Teen Panel.
Populations: Guard and Reserve, Military Children Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Dependent Child Education, Education
New Jersey provides a dedicated Military Support Specialist within the Office of Special Education to help military-connected students and families navigate special education services and maintain continuity during school transitions.
Populations: Exceptional Family Members Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Dependent Child Education, Education
Purple Star School designation recognizing military-friendly schools and resources supporting military-connected students and families.
Populations: Military Children Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Dependent Child Education, Education
The state recognizes schools that demonstrate strong supports, resources, and points of contact for military-connected students and their families, helping foster welcoming, military-friendly school communities.
Populations: Military Children Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Dependent Child Education, Education
The state recognizes military-friendly schools that demonstrate strong supports, resources, and points of contact for military-connected students and their families.
Populations: Military Children Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Dependent Child Education, Education
South Carolina Department of Veterans’ Affairs SC Purple Star Schools
South Carolina recognizes military-friendly schools that demonstrate strong supports, resources, and points of contact for military-connected students and their families.
Populations: Military Children Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Dependent Child Education, Education
South Carolina K-12 Military Readiness Task Force Findings and Recommendations
South Carolina uses findings and recommendations from its K–12 Military Readiness Task Force to strengthen policies, practices, and supports that improve educational stability and school transitions for military-connected students and families.
Populations: Military Children Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Dependent Child Education, Education
Virginia supports military-connected students and families through Military and Family Specialists who provide guidance, resources, and coordination to help navigate school transitions and maintain educational continuity during relocations.
Populations: Military Children Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Dependent Child Education, Education
The Virginia Purple Star Designation Program for Schools
Virginia recognizes military-friendly schools that demonstrate strong supports, resources, and points of contact for military-connected students and their families.
Populations: Military Children Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Dependent Child Education, Education
Louisiana’s Advanced Enrollment policies ensure military children with disabilities and an IEP, family plan, or 504 plan have smooth school transitions when relocating on military orders.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Dependent Child Education, Education
State Department of Education’s EXCELS Program
Maryland EXCELS increases access to early education and quality childcare for military families, with 287 programs enrolled and the state ranking second highest in national participation.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Dependent Child Education, Education
Your Feedback is Welcome!
This toolkit is launching in 'beta' to demonstrate the incredible potential of state level work. We'll keep refining it and would love your help in making it the most comprehensive, easy to use tool out there. Help us improve the States toolkit by sharing anything that needs attention with Blue Star Families by filling out this form.
A comprehensive overview of the methodology and supporting data can be found in the full technical memo.
Let's work together to support our military families.
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