State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced that 44 schools have been designated as 2024 Purple Star Schools. Now in its third year, the California Purple Star School Designation Program recognizes schools that are committed and equipped to meet the unique needs of military-connected students and their families.

“I commend the remarkable dedication and support shown by the winning schools of the California Purple Star School Designation Program. By embracing and enhancing services for military-connected students and their families, these schools exemplify our commitment to inclusivity, understanding, and excellence in education,” Thurmond said. “Their efforts not only enrich the educational experience but also foster a sense of belonging and appreciation for our military community.”

Purple Star Schools seek to reduce the burden on military-connected students and their families by providing the most critical transition supports. With more than 2.6 million active-duty service members and individuals serving in the National Guard and Reserves, the military is one of the United States’ largest workforces. In 2022, California had 242,624 active-duty service members and individuals serving in the National Guard and Reserves.

Source: SPI Announces 2024 California Purple Star Schools – Year 2024 (CA Dept of Education)

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond was honored today with the Cesar E. Chavez Opportunity Award for his impactful work in empowering and influencing the lives of farm working families residing in predominantly rural communities. The award was presented to Superintendent Thurmond at the 8th Annual Cesar Chavez Legacy Breakfast, in celebration of Chavez’s 97th birthday, by The Farmworkers Institute of Education & Leadership Development (FIELD)

External link opens in new window or tab..“Extraordinary models of social justice inspire us to do better and be better. There are few that rival the inspiration of Cesar Chavez and FIELD, an organization he founded 46 years ago, and their work to support farm working and rural communities,” Thurmond said. “When I began my career in public service, I committed myself to lifting up our communities that needed it the most. That did not change when I began my service as State Superintendent of Public Instruction. I am truly honored and humbled by this award.”

During the COVID pandemic, Thurmond fought to secure resources—both public and private—to ensure children of rural and farmworker communities had access to digital devices and WiFi so they would not fall behind as classrooms closed. He also secured funding to provide water bottles to Coachella farmworkers during a scorching summer heatwave and secured personal protective equipment (PPE) distribution during the pandemic to support not only schools, but also farmworkers and Native American families, along with several nonprofits, including the UFW Foundation.

Source: SPI Tony Thurmond Honored with Cesar Chavez Award – Year 2024 (CA Dept of Education)

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond hosted a Personal Finance Summit today where he announced his support for Assembly Bill 2927 (McCarty), legislation that would require a personal finance education course for California high school graduation. During the summit, which featured a panel of financial and education leaders, Thurmond also announced his recruitment efforts for a Personal Finance Task Force to inform implementation of personal finance education for K–12 students across the state, especially as a source of economic empowerment for those in marginalized communities.

“This effort is fundamentally about empowering our youth and uplifting our communities. Personal finance provides our young people with the tools to understand and improve their own economic situation, and by establishing personal finance as a requirement for California students through Assembly Bill 2927, we would ensure that this powerful opportunity is afforded to all,” said Thurmond. “If our children are equipped with the skills to understand and change their own financial situation, we can help shrink the gender wage gap and build generational wealth in our communities of color as our young people move forward and manage their money, grow their wealth, and understand value when making critical decisions for their own futures and their future families.”

Source: Personal Finance Education Summit Recap – Year 2024 (CA Dept of Education)