Commonwealth Charter Academy Named a Purple Star School by Pennsylvania Department of Education

Commonwealth Charter Academy Named a Purple Star School by Pennsylvania Department of Education

CCA is one of six schools across the state to be recognized

HARRISBURG – Commonwealth Charter Academy (CCA), Pennsylvania’s largest and premier public cyber charter school, was recently recognized by the Pennsylvania Department of Education as a Purple Star School.

“CCA is honored to receive this prestigious distinction as it affirms our commitment to providing support and assistance to military-connected students, families, and staff,” said CCA President and CEO Thomas D. Longenecker. “We are truly grateful to the men and women in uniform and their families for their willingness to sacrifice so much defending and protecting our country; this is the least we can do.”

Act 69 of 2022 created the Purple Star School Program to recognize schools for providing services to military families and school-age children who frequently experience transitions in educational settings.

According to the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC), military-connected children, on average, change schools between six and nine times by the time they graduate high school. In addition, the military lifestyle includes frequent moves, transitions, and separations, which can result in stress, learning gaps, and academic regression.

For a school to be designated a Purple Star School, it must meet the following qualifications:

• Designate a staff member as a military liaison who will engage with military-connected students, serve as a point of contact for military families, determine the appropriate services for eligible students, and coordinate related programs and services for military students.
• Maintain a publicly accessible website that provides resources for military students and families, including enrollment information, academic planning, course sequences, and counseling.
• Offer professional development for staff members related to military-connected students.
• Continued support for military-connected students and their families.

“As a public school of choice, CCA warmly welcomes any and all military-connected students and their families,” said Longenecker. “Not only will our staff welcome them with open arms, but CCA students and families will embrace them and make them feel part of the CCA Family. CCA is not only a school, we also are a family service organization, which is how school should work.”