April is the "Month of the Military Child"! Let's Purple Up!

Tie a purple ribbon around a tree or fence this week to celebrate April as the "Month of the Military Child." Show your support of military children and youth for their heroism, sacrifices and resilience. Help Purple Up your neighborhoods!

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HONOLULU - The Joint Venture Education Forum (JVEF), a cooperative partnership between Hawaii’s military community, public schools and other community organizations, highlighted success stories of Hawaii’s military students and their families at its 14th Annual Meeting today in Kapolei. JVEF’s mission is to facilitate the educational concerns and unique needs of military children and their families, such as transitioning to the islands, and to support Hawaii’s public school students. 

“Our military dependent children often need added support during relocations among military facilities and schools as their parents serve our country,”said Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi, Hawaii State Dept. of Education (HIDOE). “Our JVEF partnerships have improved support for military families and children, enriched our public schools and has built lasting bridges between our communities.”​

Awards were presented recognizing JVEF’s outstanding civilian and military contributors whose efforts have had a significant impact on Hawaii’s military and public school students.  Hawaii State Senator Jill Tokuda received the JVEF Outstanding Civilian Contributor Commendation Award for her commitment and expert guidance as former Chair of the Senate Committee on Education.  Her support to JVEF helped to bring Hawaii’s military and education communities together and furthered education initiatives through the state budget process.  

US Coast Guard pilot Lt. Sam Pemberton received the JVEF Outstanding Military Contributor Commendation Award for his four years of service on the Hale Kula Elementary School Community Council.  Recognizing the desire of many military parents to participate in School Community Meetings, but also their difficulties in attending due to busy work and family schedules, Lt. Pemberton established virtual meetings via the school’s Facebook community.  Online meeting participation has increased substantially as a result along with engagement with parents.

Longtime supporter of Federal Impact Aid funding to Hawaii, Congressman Mark Takai gave the keynote address. Impact Aid partially reimburses HIDOE for the cost of educating children whose parents work or live on federal property.

Hawaii has the highest number of military dependent children per capita in the nation, representing approximately eight-percent of the total student enrollment.  Over 40 schools on Oahu’s Central, Leeward and Windward School Districts have significant populations of military dependent students.  For more details, visit HIDOE’s Military Families website.

About the Joint Venture Education Forum
JVEF is a cooperative venture between the United States Pacific Command (PACOM) military community and the Hawaii Department of Education facilitating active military participation in Hawaii Public Education serving to advance the military community’s responsibility in the pursuit of quality education for Hawaii’s public school students.

About the Hawaii State Department of Education
The Hawaii State Department of Education is the ninth-largest U.S. school district and the only statewide educational system in the country.  It is comprised of 256 schools and 34 charter schools, and serves more than 180,000 students.  King Kamehameha III established Hawaii’s public school system in 1840. Learn about our Milestones of Transformation​.