Published on March 31, 2025
Warwick School District joins the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3) in honoring our families serving in the military. April is the month of the military child, and we’d like to take this time to recognize all of those who are impacted by their family members serving our country.
The Department of Defense reported that over 1.6 million military children, youth, and teens are serving alongside their service member parents.
Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger first designated April as the “Month of the Military Child,” acknowledging the significant role military-connected students have 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 way for communities to support military children for their strength and sacrifice.
On a designated day during the Month of the Military Child, communities throughout each state join and wear purple to honor military children. Purple is a combination of Army green, Marine Corps red, Coast Guard, Air Force, Space Force, and Navy blue; it is the appropriate color to represent military children from all branches. This year, Warwick School District will celebrate “Purple Up” Day on Tuesday, April 15th. We encourage our staff and students to wear purple in honor of all military families.
“During the month of April, we honor and recognize them for their resilience,” said Dr. Ernise Singleton MIC3 Chairman and Louisiana Commissioner, “and through the Compact, we help ease their education transitions as they move between states and worldwide.” She added, “This month is our opportunity to celebrate their strength, courage, and resiliency.”
The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children eases educational transitions of military children as they transfer between states in the areas of enrollment; placement and attendance; eligibility; and graduation. The Compact was developed by The Council of State Governments National Center for Interstate Compacts, the U.S. Department of Defense, national associations, federal and state officials, state departments of education, school administrators, and military families.
For more information, visit www.mic3.net/motmc.
About the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3)
Founded in 2008, the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3) is the governing body of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children or ICEOMC. Commission members include the 50 states, District of Columbia, and six ex-officio representatives – which include the US Department of Defense (USDOD). In addition to the USDOD, the Compact supports uniformed members of the federal Departments of Commerce, Homeland and Health and Human Services. The collaborative’s mission: ease the educational transitions of school-aged, military and uniform-connected students attending public schools, to include Department of Defense Education Activity schools worldwide, and also promulgate and enforce the compact rules.