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*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:*
April 16, 2025




*MEDIA CONTACTS:
*Dan Tierney: 614-644-0957
Nathan Takitch: 614-644-0957






Governor DeWine Recognizes 2025 Purple Star Schools for Significant Commitments to Military Students and Families

"Over 360 Ohio schools earn Purple Star designation this year"

(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) Director Stephen D. Dackin today announced that 367 Ohio schools are receiving the Purple Star designation [ [link removed] ] as part of the Class of 2025. The honor is given to schools that demonstrate a significant commitment to serving students and families connected to the nation’s armed forces.

“The Purple Star program is a wonderful way to showcase the many schools in Ohio that are going above and beyond to support their military communities,” said Governor DeWine. “It’s another example of how Ohio is a leader in caring for our military families. Year after year, our Purple Star schools put in the time and effort to make sure military-connected students have the support they need to thrive.”

This year’s class represents 115 first-time awardee schools and 252 schools that earned Purple Star renewals for their continued dedication to Ohio’s military families. In total, Ohio is now home to 700 active Purple Star schools, with each school’s designation valid for three years.

“We celebrate another year of outstanding Purple Star awardees in Ohio,” said Director Dackin. “These schools and their staff do incredible work connecting our state’s military families with resources to help them be successful, both in school and in their service to our state and country. I applaud their dedication to this important work.”

To qualify, schools designate a staff member to serve as a liaison to military families. These liaisons complete professional development, identify military-connected students, and coordinate support throughout the school community. Purple Star schools also participate in at least one supportive activity each year.

The Purple Star Class of 2025 includes schools that host monthly military kids club meetings, provide professional learning for all educators on considerations regarding the needs of military-connected students, implement peer-to-peer transition programs, or organize schoolwide celebrations honoring military students and families. All awardees work diligently to meet the unique wellness and academic needs of Ohio’s military-connected youth.

The complete list of statewide awardees and active Purple Star schools is available on DEW’s Purple Star School webpage [ [link removed] ]. 

The announcement of the Purple Star Class of 2025 is part of Ohio’s participation in the celebration of the Month of the Military Child [ [link removed] ]. April was first designated as the Month of the Military Child by the United States Department of Defense in 1986 to increase public knowledge and understanding of the issues surrounding children who have a parent in the military.

Applications for the next class of Purple Star schools will open in November.

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*Additional Media Contacts:*

*Ohio Department of Education and Workforce
*Lacey Snoke, Chief Communications Officer
614-995-1855
[email protected]

Chad Eberly, Deputy Chief of Communications
614-466-4839
[email protected]

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