Month of the Military Child
April is designated as the Month of the Military Child; a time to honor the sacrifices made by military families worldwide, with an emphasis on the experience of the dependent children of military members serving at home and overseas. Month of the Military Child is sponsored by the Department of Defense Military Community and Family Policy and supported by many other organizations, including the ADE Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission
Celebrating Month of the Military Child
Read Governor Sarah Huckabee Sander's Proclamation for Month of the Military Child 2025.
More than 18,000 Arkansans served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Many serve on active duty while others serve in the reserve forces and in the National Guard. More than 8,000 military children are enrolled in Arkansas public and private schools, while others are homeschooled. Children of military families face unique academic and social challenges. The sacrifices they make because of their parents' military service deserves special recognition.
There are many activities that school districts can do to raise awareness of military children and to honor them and their families. District school boards may also wish to adopt a resolution observing Month of the Military Child. School districts are also encouraged to celebrate Purple Up! for Military Kids Day by wearing purple clothing to show their support for children of military families. See our Month of the Military Child Toolkit for help getting started!
SAVE THE DATE! April 10, 2026 is Purple Up! Day!
Pictures and videos may be posted on social media. Please tag the Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission at @MIC3.Compact (Facebook) and the Arkansas Council for Military Children at @ArkMilKids (X) and @MIC3Arkansas (Facebook), and the Little Rock Air Force Base school liaison at @LRAFBSchoolLiaison (Facebook).
