State of Montana Newsroom
OPI and MIC3 CELEBRATES APRIL AS THE MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD
OPI and MIC3 CELEBRATES APRIL AS THE MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD
HELENA, MT – Office of Public Instruction Superintendent Elsie Arntzen and Brigadier General (R) Hal Stearns, Montana Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commissioner (MIC3) will “Purple Up! For Military Kids” on April 16th, 2021.
The designation of April as the Month of the Military Child acknowledges the significant role military-connected students play in our communities. In 2011, the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension Military Youth and Family Program started the “Purple Up! for Military Kids” as a visible way to thank military youth for their strength and sacrifice. Because purple represents joint service operations and is a combination of Army green, Marine Corps red, and Coast Guard, Air Force, and Navy blue, it is the appropriate color for military children from all branches.
Currently, Montana has 1,478 school-age (5-18) military-connected public-school students. In 2020 Montana had a total of 6,126 both Active Duty, National Guard, and Army Reserve connected children.
“We must remember that military families, especially kids, serve too,” said Superintendent Arntzen. “They often put on a ‘brave face’ through the hardships and multiple moves. For this we honor them.”
“There is no higher calling than military service,” according to General Stearns. “Those who give have great rewards and make many sacrifices - and families do as well. Purple Up recognition is a terrific way to say thank you.”
In 2013, Montana’s Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission (MIC3) was adopted by the Montana legislature with the purpose to remove barriers to educational success imposed on children of military families. The MIC3 is a quasi-governmental entity operating under the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. With 50-member states and the District of Columbia, the Compact ensures the uniform treatment of military-connected children transferring between states and enrolled in public and U.S. Department of Defense schools.
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