Educators across the state understand each child comes to the classroom with different experiences. They try to meet the needs of individuals even while they’re teaching many students at once.

Some of those children are part of military families, with their own set of challenges. During Purple Up Month — the month of the military child — members of the state board of education got some updates on efforts to support those kids and their families.

“West Virginia has a strong record of citizens volunteering to enlist in a military service at a higher rate than most other states across the nation,” said Robert Mellace, an education development coordinator with the state Department of Education. “This year, Purple Up Day is recognized on April 23 in West Virginia when we celebrate the resiliency military-connected students display when a loved one is deployed and how we choose to walk with them through this challenging time.”

Schools have a variety of tools for supporting those students. When a school receives a Purple Star award, it means they have demonstrated their commitment by having trained military family points of contact, offering links to resources, participating in at least two military support activities annually and celebrating Purple Up Day. There are 315 schools in the Mountain State with the award so far.

Statements of support for the program help show veterans who might be visiting the school they are among friends. That’s important, too, as the families of these students know they are in a safe space — perhaps even among other veterans working for the schools — when they are there to support their kids.

Again, West Virginians have been ready to answer when our country called for generations. That’s nothing new. But it is encouraging to see our schools do so much for those service members and their children. We can never thank them enough, but every effort counts.