S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7083
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              April 21, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. BURDICK -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the  education  law,  in  relation  to  authorizing  the
   commissioner of education to implement a purple star schools program
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 305 of the education law is amended by adding a new
 subdivision 59 to read as follows:
   59. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ESTABLISH A "PURPLE STAR  SCHOOLS  PROGRAM"
 TO RECOGNIZE SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHICH DEMONSTRATE A COMMITMENT
 TO ASSISTING MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
   A.  THE COMMISSIONER, OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE, SHALL DESIGNATE A SCHOOL
 AS A "PURPLE STAR  SCHOOL"  UPON  APPLICATION  OF  A  SCHOOL  OR  SCHOOL
 DISTRICT WHICH:
   (I)  HAS  DESIGNATED A STAFF MEMBER AS A MILITARY LIAISON WHOSE DUTIES
 INCLUDE: (A) IDENTIFYING MILITARY-CONNECTED  STUDENTS  ENROLLED  IN  THE
 DISTRICT;  (B)  SERVING  AS  THE  POINT OF CONTACT BETWEEN THE SCHOOL OR
 SCHOOL DISTRICT AND SUCH STUDENTS; (C)  DETERMINING  APPROPRIATE  CAMPUS
 SERVICES  AVAILABLE TO MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS; AND (D) ASSISTING IN
 COORDINATING CAMPUS PROGRAMS RELEVANT TO MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS;
   (II) MAINTAINS ON ITS WEBSITE AN EASILY ACCESSIBLE PAGE THAT  INCLUDES
 RESOURCES  FOR MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, INCLUDING
 INFORMATION REGARDING: (A) RELOCATION TO,  ENROLLMENT  AT,  REGISTRATION
 AT,  AND  TRANSFERRING  RECORDS  TO  THE  CAMPUS; (B) ACADEMIC PLANNING,
 COURSE SEQUENCES, AND ADVANCED CLASSES  AVAILABLE  AT  THE  CAMPUS;  (C)
 COUNSELING  AND  OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR MILITARY-CONNECTED
 STUDENTS ENROLLED AT THE CAMPUS; (D)  THE  MILITARY  LIAISON  DESIGNATED
 UNDER SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, AND THE LIAISON'S DUTIES UNDER
 SUCH  SUBPARAGRAPH;  AND (E) THE STATE MILITARY FAMILY EDUCATION LIAISON
 DESIGNATED PURSUANT TO SECTION THIRTY-THREE HUNDRED EIGHT OF THIS  CHAP-
 TER;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD10838-02-1

 A. 7083                             2
 
   (III)  MAINTAINS A TRANSITION PROGRAM LED BY STUDENTS, WHERE APPROPRI-
 ATE, THAT ASSISTS MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS IN TRANSITIONING INTO  THE
 CAMPUS;
   (IV)  OFFERS  PROFESSIONAL  DEVELOPMENT  FOR  STAFF  MEMBERS ON ISSUES
 RELATED TO MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS;
   (V) FOR PURPOSES OF MONITORING ACADEMIC PROGRESS OF MILITARY-CONNECTED
 STUDENTS, INCLUDES AN IDENTIFIER ON THE STUDENT RECORD  OF  A  MILITARY-
 CONNECTED  STUDENT  AND  INCLUDE  IN  THE  BASIC EDUCATIONAL DATA SYSTEM
 REPORTS (BEDS), THE NUMBER OF MILITARY-CONNECTED  STUDENTS  ENROLLED  IN
 SUCH SCHOOL OR SCHOOL DISTRICT; AND
   (VI)  THE  BOARD  OF EDUCATION OR OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY AUTHORIZED TO
 ACT ON BEHALF OF THE SCHOOL OR SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS EITHER: (A) ISSUED  A
 RESOLUTION,  PROCLAMATION,  OR  OTHER  OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR
 MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES; OR (B) ISSUED  A  RESOL-
 UTION,  PROCLAMATION,  OR OTHER OFFICIAL STATEMENT RECOGNIZING THE MONTH
 OF APRIL AS THE "MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD" AND/OR THE MONTH OF NOVEM-
 BER AS "MILITARY FAMILY MONTH" AND HAS HOSTED EVENTS ON CAMPUS CELEBRAT-
 ING EITHER OR BOTH; OR (C) ENTERED INTO A PARTNERSHIP  WITH  A  MILITARY
 INSTALLATION,  NATIONAL  GUARD  ARMORY  OR  RESERVE CENTER THAT PROVIDES
 OPPORTUNITIES FOR MILITARY MEMBERS TO VOLUNTEER AT THE CAMPUS, SPEAK  AT
 AN ASSEMBLY, HOST A FIELD TRIP, OR PARTICIPATE IN SUCH OTHER EDUCATIONAL
 ACTIVITIES AS THE COMMISSIONER OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE DEEM APPROPRIATE.
   B.  A  SCHOOL  OR  SCHOOL  DISTRICT  MAY PARTNER WITH A THIRD PARTY TO
 PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES AND INITIATIVES SPECIFIED UNDER  PARAGRAPH  A  OF
 THIS SUBDIVISION.
   C. THE COMMISSIONER MAY PROMULGATE RULES TO EFFECTUATE THE PURPOSES OF
 THIS SUBDIVISION.
   D.  AS  USED IN THIS SUBDIVISION, "MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT" MEANS A
 SCHOOL-AGED CHILD ENROLLED IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH TWELFTH GRADE IN  THE
 HOUSEHOLD  OF  AN  ACTIVE  DUTY  MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY, A
 RESERVE FORCE OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY, THE  ORGANIZED  MILITIA  OF
 THIS STATE OR ANY OTHER STATE.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.