Wayne County Schools To Purple Up!

GOLDSBORO – This week, the Wayne County Board of Education proclaimed April as Month of the Military Child for Wayne County Public Schools (WCPS) and that WCPS will Purple Up! for military connected students on Friday, April 16. Teachers, staff, and community members are encouraged to wear purple as a visible gesture of support for students with a parent serving in our nation’s military.

“Whether it is moving regularly or having a parent deployed for several months, our military children experience unique challenges and life transitions,” states Jamie Livengood, WCPS Military Liaison Counselor. “We want everyone to Purple Up! to help bring awareness of the sacrifices military-connected students make, and to show students and their families that our schools and community support them.“

The Purple Up! initiative is supported by the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC), a global non-profit organization focused on ensuring quality educational opportunities for all military children affected by mobility, family separation, and transition. WCPS has been a member of MCEC since 2004.

Each year, WCPS joins other MCEC school districts across the United States and Department of Defense Schools located around the world by recognizing April as the Month of the Military Child. In addition to Purple Up!, schools will hold various activities during the month of April to recognize and appreciate military connected students for their service and sacrifice.

MCEC Facts:

• Military connected students move 6-9 times during their K-12 years.
• Military-connected children number almost 4 million, 75% of whom are school-age.
• Almost every school district in America includes military-connected children and youth whose parents serve or served in the Active, Guard, and Reserve components of the Armed Forces.
• Approximately 80% of these students attend U.S. public schools while less than 8% attend Department of Defense schools.

WCPS Facts:

• WCPS has approximately over 1,900 military connected students.
• 100% of WCPS Schools earned the 2021 Purple Star Designation.
• WCPS is one of eight NC public school districts to earn a Purple Star District designation.
• Approximately 1,675 WCPS employees were trained to further strengthen school-level supports for students of military families.