Welcome Military Families

We are thankful to all veterans for their service to our country and to all military families for the sacrifices they make for that service. We stand in support of the military families living in our District, and we take seriously the responsibility of providing unmatched educational opportunities to students of military households while accommodating their unique needs. Every child, every day.

Wisconsin Purple Star School Program

The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is launching the inaugural Purple Star School Program during the 2025–2026 school year. DPI invites all schools to participate in the Purple Star School designation, which recognizes schools that demonstrate a strong commitment to supporting military-connected students.

The primary focus of this designation is to help schools meet the unique needs of military-connected children, who often face educational, social, and emotional challenges when transitioning between schools with different curricula, expectations, and graduation requirements.

Please see the Purple Star School Program Announcement flyer and share out with any interested parties. For more information on the Purple Star School Program, please visit DPI’s Military Children and Families webpage.

Student Resources

Family Resources

IDEA & Special Needs

Academic Resources

Local Resources

State Resources

National Resources

Military Recognition Months

April - Month of the Military Child

Purple Up for Military Kids - Month of the Military Child

April is the Month of the Military Child

It’s officially April. We love that April means spring is here, but we also love that April is the “Month of the Military Child,” and we get to honor the military children in our district and throughout the United States. The Sun Prairie Area School District is proud to recognize our military children and their families, as well as the many staff members and their families who have served or are serving in the military.

The Month of the Military Child started in 1986 when Secretary of Defense Casper W. Weinberger realized that no one was recognizing the sacrifice that military children make by having one or both parents in the military. He thought that military children were inspirational in how they handled hard situations, like being separated from family members due to deployment and frequently moving.

Did you know…

There are approximately 2 million military children, ranging in age from newborn to 18 years old
We have just under 10,000 school-aged children who are military children in Wisconsin
Military families relocate 3 times more often than civilian families on average, every 2-3 years
Since 2001, more than 2 million children have had a parent deployed at least once
1/3 of school-age military children show psychosocial and trauma-induced behaviors such as being anxious, worrying often, and crying more frequently than other children
The repeated and extended separations and increased hazards of deployment compound stressors in military children’s lives

In order to honor and reach out to children who are dealing/have dealt with a parent or both parents in the military, we ask that everyone Purple Up. Purple references the joint environment of the military, encompassing all service branches, Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard, and Veterans. Purple combines each branch's colors into one: the Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard all use shades of blue, the Army uses green, and the Marines use red.We invite everyone to wear purple during the week of April 15th as a visible way to show support and thank military children for their strength and sacrifices. Each school may choose the date on which they want to celebrate the military children in their school.

Even though these “Month of the Military Child” events are taking place in April, there are many organizations that work year round to better the lives of military children. Here’s a few of the organizations that work hard to recognize military children and the sacrifices they have to make.

Military children make many sacrifices by having a parent or both parents in the military, so we are thankful for the staff in the Sun Prairie Area School District and the organizations that help to make April a fun month for the children being affected, as well as the organizations who work with military families all year round. Remember to wear your purple the week of April 15th to show your support!

May - Military Appreciation Month

May is Military Appreciation Month

May, marked officially as Military Appreciation Month, is a special month for both those in and out of the military. Congress designated May as National Military Appreciation Month in 1999 to ensure the nation was given the chance to publicly show their appreciation for troops past and present.

Not only do we pause on Memorial Day to remember the sacrifice and service of those who gave all, but the month also holds several other military anniversaries and events, including Military Spouse Appreciation Day and Armed Forces day.

Please join the Sun Prairie Area School District to honor the service and sacrifice of members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines, Space Force and National Guard as well as the contribution of their spouses.

Blue Star Families Military Lifestyle Survey - The Military Family Experience 2023: A Signal in the Field

November - Military Veterans and Military Family Appreciation Month

Graphic celebrating Military Family Appreciation Month

Military Discount offered at Faded Roots Boutique - show military ID for 10% off

Wisconsin Public Radio Segment on Military Children

November is Military Family Appreciation Month

Every November we recognize the contributions of military families. Most individuals are aware of Veterans Day which is held on November 11, but we also honor military families during November. Less than one half of one percent of men and women in the US serve in the military, but their service is essential to many parts of our lives. Throughout the year we have seen the contributions of military members from Wisconsin to the ongoing efforts to support cyber security related to elections, continue to deal with COVID 19, and help in battling the wildfires in Wisconsin and throughout the Western United States. We also have members involved in supporting recent events related to storms in the South. Additionally, we have military members serving throughout the world to protect our freedom.

We have family members of active duty, Guard, and Reserve military members in every community in Wisconsin. Additionally, we have families of Coast Guard members, civilian personnel in the Department of Defense, members of the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, and United States Public Health Service, all working on behalf of the defense of the United States.

Behind the over 1,300,00 Military members, over 1,300,00 Department of Defense personnel, and the 41,000 plus Coast Guard members there are families supporting them. Families of Military members often sacrifice a great deal as individuals are called on to serve in dangerous situations in locations throughout the world, often for extended periods of time. Families, including children, deal with the stress of numerous moves, lengthy separations, high risk deployments, and assignments.

Wisconsin is part of the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Coalition or MIC3 which ensures educational barriers are removed for the children of military families. We have legislation in place to ensure Equal Opportunities for Military Children.

There are several organizations that exist to support military families. The following organizations provide excellent resources for families, educators, and community members. We invite you to join us in celebrating and recognizing the families of Military Members throughout November. If you would like additional information, please contact Wisconsin Commissioner for the Education of Military Children, and the Sun Prairie Area School District liaison, Shelley Joan Weiss at sjweiss@sunprairieschools.org

Resources from Military.com

Educational Opportunities for Military Children

National Military Family Association

Military Child Education Coalition

Four Ways to Recognize Military Families

Read the Proclamation from Governor Evers in honor of the Month of the Military Child