April is recognized nationally as the “Month of the Military Child,” and North Carolina leaders and schools are joining in.
North Carolina public schools enroll over 100,000 military-connected students, according to the most recent data from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI). High concentrations of those families live near military installations in Craven, Cumberland, Onslow, and Wayne counties. As one of the most military personnel populated states, North Carolina has several initiatives and events to make families feel more welcomed.
“North Carolina is dedicated to further strengthening our state’s longstanding relationship with the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security, in part by providing the unique support and active outreach that our state’s military communities and families need,” Gov. Josh Stein stated in a proclamation of the month.
Many statewide and national efforts are being highlighted throughout the month. EdNC has included just a fraction of them below.
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Operation Homefront
Operation Homefront is a nationally recognized nonprofit whose mission is to serve and create stability for military families. This year marks their 18th annual Military Child of the Year Award, which recognizes students in military families who have served their communities. Each year, one award recipient is selected for each branch of the armed forces.
“The Military Child of the Year® Award reflects the positive impact that these impressive young people have made on their military families, their schools, and their communities,” Operation Homefront’s website says.
Two North Carolina public school students were recognized in 2025 on behalf of the National Guard and Marine Corps. For 2026, five finalists are from North Carolina. The winners will be honored at a Washington, D.C. ceremony in April:
- Virginia Burks, Craven County Schools (Marine Corps)
- Genesis Hall, McDowell County Schools (National Guard)
- Hannah Kirksey, Onslow County Schools (Marine Corps)
- Kinsey Robinson, Moore County Schools (Army)
- Victoria Vanacore, Dare County Schools (Coast Guard)
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Purple Star Awards
The Purple Star Schools program is a national effort to support military-connected students as they transition to new schools due to a parent’s permanent change of station. As of November 2025, 44 states have or are in the process of implementing a Purple Star Awards initiative.
“North Carolina is home to a large population of active duty, guard, reserve, and veteran armed services members, and the state’s public schools reflect that,” DPI’s website says. “In 2019, The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction launched the Purple Star Award Designation initiative to recognize the state’s strong military presence and its support for military families.”
Examples of practices that make schools eligible for the Purple Star award include having a military resource page on their website and a transition program for inbound and outbound families.
Awarding-winning schools must have a staff member liaison for military families, and districts must also have a central office employee who serves as a point person for those liaisons. Finally, there must also be annual professional development that addresses special considerations for military students and families.
On April 24, 598 schools are expected to become 2025-26 Purple Star Award recipients. The tally includes 143 more schools than last year and about 46% more schools than from the inception of the awards in 2019, according to a recent presentation by DPI.
When every school in a district qualifies for a Purple Star designation, the whole district receives the State Superintendent Purple Star Award. The following 15 districts received such recognition for the 2024-25 school year.
- Carteret County Schools,
- Craven County Schools,
- Cumberland County Schools,
- Currituck County Schools,
- Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools,
- Harnett County Schools,
- Hoke County Schools,
- Jones County Schools,
- Moore County Schools,
- Onslow County Schools,
- Pender County Schools,
- Polk County Schools,
- Scotland County Schools,
- Wayne County Public Schools, and
- Whiteville City Schools.
“Ensuring that every North Carolina public school student has the appropriate support is paramount to achieving academic excellence in our schools,” state Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green said during the 2025 ceremony. “I applaud the hundreds of schools across the state who were awarded Purple Stars today. Their dedication to their students, their families and their communities does not go unnoticed, and I am grateful for all that you have done and continue to do for military students and their families.”
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Organizations supporting NC’s military-connected students
Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission
The Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3) is the governing body of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. An interstate compact is an agreement among states to follow a specific set of administrative rules surrounding a specific issue. This allows states to collaborate with each other to resolve complex policy challenges while still retaining their sovereignty. The governance of the commission is led by member states and administered without federal intervention.
The following issues are addressed in the MIC3 compact: student eligibility, enrollment, placement, and graduation.
North Carolina became one of the first 11 states to adopt the compact in 2008. The N.C. council is currently led by Nick Sojka, Jr., who also serves as board attorney for Cumberland County School’s Board of Education. Its meetings are centered around advocating for policies that impact military-connected students.
“North Carolina is a proud member of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children,” the state website for the commission says. “North Carolina is committed to the education of the children of our military service members while their home is in our state.”
Military Impacted Schools Association
Military Impacted Schools Association (MISA) is a national organization for supporting school superintendents in districts with a high concentration of military-connected children.
MISA works with local school districts and commanders to share best practices for supporting such a population. Four school districts are currently a part of the association: Cumberland County Schools, Harnett County Schools, Onslow County Schools, and Wayne County Public Schools.
Military Child Education Coalition
The Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) is a global nonprofit that conducts research and resource development for military-connected children. Its mission is to ensure the quality of educational opportunities for the United State’s military-connected children.
One of their initiatives is the MCEC Student to Student and Junior Student to Student programs train civilian and military-connected middle and high school students to create peer-based programs in their schools. The programs support military connected students as they transition from school to school. The goal is to raise awareness of the needs of transitioning students. Some of the needs identified by the coalition include: academics, finding the way, relationships, and acceptance.
MCEC also provides resources for the Purple Star Schools program.
Adopt-A-School Program
The Adopt-A-School program matches military units with local elementary, middle, and high schools to provide support throughout the school year.
Units lend a hand through volunteering at events, test monitoring, providing mentorship, and more. Schools can reciprocate by supporting their unit during the holidays and times of deployment.
On March 18, Onslow County Schools became the first district in the nation to have all of their schools adopted by a military unit, according to a Marine Corps press release.
“Through the Adopt-A-School program, Marines and Sailors have built lasting relationships with schools across Jacksonville and the greater Onslow County area, relationships rooted in mentorship, volunteerism and a shared commitment to the next generation,” the press release said.
Are there more resources for military-connected students EdNC should highlight? If so, please email me at cbrown@ednc.org.
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