Texas Border Business
EDINBURG – The Texas Education Agency (TEA) recently announced that Edinburg North High School from Edinburg CISD earned the state’s new Purple Star Campus Designation for its support and commitment to meeting the needs of military-connected students and their families.
“It’s a great honor for Edinburg North High School, Edinburg CISD, and the community. We are constantly trying to offer our support to all of the community, and our military is part of our community,” said Edinburg North High School Principal Mark Micallef. “Although we don’t have any major bases here in Edinburg, we support the efforts of all families of the military – active duty and veterans.”
A total of 106 campuses across the state received the honor. Edinburg North High School was the only high school campus in Region One to receive the award.
“We are very honored and proud that we are the only ones in South Texas,” said Maj. Saul Gonzalez, a senior instructor for the JROTC program at Edinburg North High School. “Maybe now, things will start moving, and other schools will follow our lead and provide that information or that help to military families.”
The Purple Star Campus Designation recognizes schools that show a significant commitment to students and families connected to the nation’s military.
Micallef said that the Purple Star recognition aligns with one of the District’s goals of ensuring students are college, career, and military ready when they graduate.
“We are here to make sure that we offer any services and support that we can for those military families,” said Micallef. “We want to ensure that it’s a continuous and seamless transition from campus to campus and that the students are able to continue and graduate on time.”
According to TEA, the special honor was created by the 86th Texas Legislature through Senate Bill (SB) 1557 in 2019, where a school will be honored with the Purple Star award if it meets the following criteria:
- Designate a campus-based military liaison.
- Create and maintain an easily accessible web page that includes information for military-connected students and their families.
- Provide a campus transition program.
- Offer at least one of the following initiatives:
· A resolution showing support for military-connected students and families;
· Participation in Month of the Military Child or Military Family Month; or
· Partnership with a school liaison officer to encourage and provide opportunities for active-duty military members.
For a list of the Purple Star Campus Designation Awardees, visit https://tea.texas.gov/about-tea/news-and-multimedia/correspondence/taa-letters/purple-star-campus-designation-awardees.
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