El Paso County Colorado School District 49 earned a Purple Star designation for its support of military families. According to a March news release, the designation places the district in a category of its own in the Pikes Peak Region and the state of Colorado.ìThis is a tremendous honor that validates our commitment to our military families,î said Alex Malone, D 49ís Military Student Transition Consultant. ìD 49 has put years of work into developing firm foundations that create a welcoming and engaging environment for the students of our servicemen and women.îThe Purple Star designation launched in Ohio in 2017, as a grassroots effort to create a support framework for schools and school districts that serve military families and their children. Since its inception, 11 states and several school districts across the nation have adopted this program. D 49 meets all program requirements with existing resources.ìWe dedicate significant time and energy to create seamless transitions into new environments for military-connected students,î said Dr. Louis Fletcher, D 49 director of Culture and Services ìWith the coordination of Mr. Malone as our military family liaison and programs like Student 2 Student on multiple campuses, we ensure the school experience is great through their entire relationship with D 49.îìAttending school and starting fresh in many cities is a challenge unique to the military experience, and we recognize that,î added Malone. ìWe want our families to know immediately we can serve them, and that theyíll find a welcoming environment where their students will succeed in their pursuit of an excellent education.î
