April is the Month of the Military Child

April is the “Month of the Military Child,” and we get to honor the military children in school districts in Wisconsin and throughout the United States. We are proud to recognize our military children and their families, as well as the many school district 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 April 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.

• MIC3 Purple Up

• Military Child Education Coalition - Purple Up

• Military One Source

• DoDEA Purple Up

• Department of Defense Purple Up

• Bloom Military Kids

• National Military Family Association - Military Children

• Sun Prairie Area School District - Military Resources  (Sample of what schools/districts may offer.)

Military children make many sacrifices by having a parent or both parents in the military, so we are thankful for the school districts, the organizations, and businesses that help to make April a memorable month for the children being affected, as well as the organizations who work with military families all year round. Remember to wear your purple in April to show your support!

Also, we are thrilled that Wisconsin is now hosting the Purple Star Schools program.

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) launched the inaugural Purple Star School Program to recognize schools supporting military-connected students. The program helps schools address the unique social-emotional and academic challenges military children face during transitions. Applications for this designation open on April 1, 2026, aiming to support students from active duty, Reserves, and National Guard families. 

Key Aspects of Wisconsin Purple Star Schools

• Purpose: The initiative aims to support military-connected children, who may move frequently, by ensuring smooth transitions between schools with different standards, curricula, and schedules.
• Requirements: While specific criteria for the initial Wisconsin application cycle are finalized for April 2026, the program highlights the need for dedicated support, such as staff training, dedicated websites, or student-led transition programs.
• Recognition: The designation is awarded by the DPI to schools that demonstrate a commitment to these students.
• Context: This initiative is part of a broader commitment, including the state's participation in the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. 

We hope that all Wisconsin Schools will pursue the Purple Star School designation.