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School Accreditations

Ohio Department of Education, Aug 7, 2026 — The Purple Star Award recognizes schools that show a major commitment to students and families connected to our nation's military.

Purpose: The initiative helps ease the challenges of frequent relocations, parental absences, and reintegration for military youth.

National Reach: Started in Ohio in 2015, the program has expanded into a nearly nationwide model adopted across dozens of states. Advocacy and tracking are heavily supported by organizations like the Military Child Education Coalition.

The Peggy Kubert Model School in Mental Health Excellence is a recognition from Erika’s Lighthouse designed to identify and recognize schools that are committed to promoting good mental health by focusing on prevention and early identification.
A Peggy Kubert Model School excels at tier-1 mental health programming by working within an effective multi-tiered system of support and is working to create an inclusive school culture for students, staff and families.

STEM

STEM and STEAM education is an integrated approach to innovative teaching and learning where rigorous academic concepts are learned through real-world, problem-based experiences. The Ohio STEM and STEAM School Designation was created to award and recognize schools that are exemplars of this work. 

STEM and STEAM Designated Schools employ highly effective teachers and leaders who meet the needs of the whole child. In addition, these schools have well-established partnerships with businesses, non-profit organizations, institutes of higher education and other entities in their communities to prepare students for post-high school success.