Children whose parents are in the military often hop from school to school, never staying in a place for too long.
It can be tiring and lonely for those students, but some schools help to ease those feelings.
Heritage Academy is the lone private school in the state in the inaugural class of the Mississippi Military Star School program.
“Schools that have the Military Star School Designation receive training to help understand the unique challenges of military families,” HA Director of Admissions Beth Lucas told The Dispatch in an email. “… When military families relocate, they often research school options and apply for admissions before they ever arrive at their new assignment. We provide them with school information through emails, phone calls and sometimes Zoom meetings to let them know what we can offer.”
The program was created by Gov. Tate Reeves in a February 2022 executive order, and Mississippi joined 31 other states that have passed or issued legislation creating similar programs for military students. The program is overseen and administered by the Mississippi Department of Education.
Military Star schools must meet specific requirements including appointing a liaison for military families, providing student-led transition services and peer support, ensuring professional development in response to military families’ and students’ needs and recognizing service members and their families.
In the inaugural class, which gives designation to schools from 2023-25, there were 61 schools — four of which are in Lowndes County. The three Caledonia schools received the designation along with Heritage.
Schools districts were notified of the program requirements in July 2022, and schools had until Feb. 1 to submit their applications for the program. The Military Star program is open to public and nonpublic schools, according to MDE.
“With Columbus being home to Columbus Air Force Base, we felt it was important to work towards this designation so current and incoming families can see that we are here to help and support their children,” Lucas said. “… We communicate throughout the year with Joni Nalley, the school liaison at CAFB. She and other base representatives visit our school, provide speakers, attend Veterans Day events and more. We get answers to questions we may have about serving military families, and we provide her with information she may need to help families who are researching schools.”
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