Education: other; purple star school program; create. Amends 1976 PA 451 (MCL 380.1 - 380.1852) by adding sec. 1138a.
Summary
HB 4367 would require the Michigan Department of Education to create a statewide Purple Star Program by January 1, 2026. The program is intended to recognize public schools that provide targeted support for military-connected pupils and their families. To qualify for the designation, a school must designate a military liaison, maintain a public website page with relocation, enrollment, academic, and support-service information, operate a transition program for incoming military-connected pupils, provide staff training on military-connected student needs, and offer at least one additional support or recognition initiative.
The bill defines both the armed forces and “military-connected pupil” broadly, covering students who are family members of current or former service members and students whose family members were killed in the line of duty. It applies to public schools, school districts, intermediate school districts, and public school academies, and it adds a new section to the Revised School Code rather than replacing existing requirements. The measure would create a formal application and designation process for schools seeking Purple Star status, but it does not itself impose penalties or funding provisions in the text provided.
Impact
HB 4367 would amend the Revised School Code by adding a new section requiring the Department of Education to establish a Purple Star Program and a school designation process. In practice, this would add new administrative and informational obligations for participating public schools, including appointing a liaison, publishing family resources online, training staff, and offering transition and support activities for military-connected students. The bill would affect public school districts, intermediate school districts, and public school academies that seek the designation, while also creating a statewide framework for recognizing schools that meet the program criteria.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests strong support for the bill. It was reported out of committee unanimously and then passed the House on third reading by a wide margin, including an immediate-effect roll call. No committee transcript is provided, so there is no recorded debate here, but the vote pattern indicates broad bipartisan or near-unanimous approval for the concept of supporting military-connected students in schools.
Contention
There is little visible contention in the materials provided. The main policy choice in the bill is whether the state should create a formal Purple Star designation and require schools to meet specific support criteria for military-connected pupils. Any potential concerns would likely center on the administrative burden for schools, the need to identify and support military-connected students, and whether the program should be voluntary or more broadly implemented, but no explicit opposition is shown in the voting record or transcripts provided.
Education: meals; free school lunch and breakfast program; create. Amends 1976 PA 451 (MCL 380.1 - 380.1852) by adding sec. 1271. TIE BAR WITH: SB 0785'26
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