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Region 15 Education Service Center

Military-Connected Students

Who are our Military-Connected Students?

The Texas Education Agency recognizes the need to provide information about available resources to students, parents, and educators to assist with navigating transitions to new schools, communities, and repeated cycles of separation and reunion.

  • Texas ranks second in the nation for educating school-aged military-connected students, with nearly 200,000 identified military-connected students attending public and open-enrollment charter schools.
  • Public and open-enrollment charter schools have identified military-connected students in every school region of Texas.
  • Military-connected children move an average of 6-9 times during their K-12 education experience.
  • 30% of military-connected children are between the ages of 6 and 11 years old.
  • Children from military families are twice as likely as their civilian counterparts to serve in the Armed Forces as adults.
Region Area

Total # of M-C Students 

(Fall 2024 PEIMS)

 24-25 PSCD Campuses 23-24 PSCD Campuses 22-23 PSCD Campuses 21-22 PSCD Campuses 20-21 PSCD Campuses
15 San Angelo 2,628 7 5 2 5 1
State Total 213,2038 542 152 179 45 116

 

Learn more about military-connected students and how to identify them.

Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission MIC3

The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (Military Compact) exists to strengthen transitions and close educational gaps as military families and their children move to a new school district in another state.

Compact training is provided for those interested.

Purple Star Campus Designation

The Purple Star Campus Designation recognizes Texas district and charter schools that show their support and commitment to meeting the unique needs of military-connected students and their families.

Purple Star Campus

 

Purple Star Campus Support PLC Series (Fall 2025)  

TEA and MCEC are proud to offer a 5-part Professional Learning Community (PLC) series for educators working toward or implementing the Purple Star Campus Designation (PSCD). Each session includes a short lesson on best practices, real case discussions, and Purple Star Office Hours—a dedicated time for personalized support from MCEC’s Military Student Consultants (MSCs). 

PLC Dates (Wednesdays, 2:00–3:30 p.m. CST): 

  • September 17, 2025 – Purple Star Designated: What’s Next?
  • October 22, 2025 – Identifying Military-Connected Students
  • November 19, 2025 – Developing a Purple Star Advisory Committee 

Registration Link: TEA Purple Star Campus Support PLC and Office Hours 

For a full list of events and registration details, please visit the 2025–26 Military Events Calendar (PDF). 

For more information or to be added to the Military-Connected Student listserv, please contact Dr. Lesley Casarez at Lesley.Casarez@esc15.net.