OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and the Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) announced Cheney Public Schools as one of 12 school districts across the state to receive the 2024 Purple Star Award. This is Cheney Public Schools' first Purple Star designation, which was created in 2023.

“We are thrilled as a district to be awarded the Purple Star Award from OSPI,” Superintendent Ben Ferney said. “It is an honor to serve our military-connected students and families, and I am proud that our district has been designated a welcoming and supportive community for them.”

To receive the award, school districts must successfully address the educational, social, and emotional barriers that students may experience when their parents/guardians are deployed or when relocating or transferring to different schools. School districts must also demonstrate a commitment to military-connected families and students by providing students with the tools and supports needed for success in their education and in their futures—whether they pursue postsecondary education, military involvement, or other careers.

The Washington state Purple Star Award was established through House Bill 1346, which became law in July 2023. To be eligible for this distinction, Cheney Public Schools needed to meet several requirements, which can be viewed here. All 12 school districts that applied for an earned the Purple Star Award in 2024 will retain the designation for two years.