Florida just sent a message to every military family wondering where to settle down.
The state leads the nation when it comes to supporting veterans and service members.
And Ron DeSantis made one move for military families that left other states scrambling.
Military families sacrifice more than most Americans realize.
They uproot their lives every few years, watch their kids change schools six to nine times between kindergarten and graduation, and navigate the stress of deployments while trying to give their children some stability.
Most states pay lip service to supporting these families.
They slap a yellow ribbon bumper sticker on it and call it a day.
Florida does something different.
451 Schools and 16 Colleges Just Earned Purple Star Recognition
Florida's Department of Education announced this week that 451 K-12 schools and 16 colleges earned the prestigious Purple Star designation for 2025.¹
The recognition includes 78 new schools achieving Purple Star School of Distinction status and 124 schools from the inaugural cohort renewing their designation.²
"Florida's veterans, service members and military families make daily sacrifices to defend our freedom," Florida Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas said. "Florida's Purple Star Schools and Collegiate Purple Star Campuses remain steadfast in ensuring military families receive consistent, high-quality education no matter where they are stationed."³
https://twitter.com/EducationFL/status/1987946191372374065?s=20
Governor Ron DeSantis signed the Purple Star Schools of Distinction program into law in 2021.
The program recognizes schools that go beyond basic requirements to support military families during the challenging transition periods that come with frequent relocations.⁴
Purple Star schools must provide a military liaison, dedicated webpages with resources for military families, student-led transition programs, and professional development training for staff on the unique needs of military-connected students.⁵
For the first time since the program launched, the Florida Virtual School earned the Florida Purple Star School District Designation – an honor reserved for districts where at least 75% of schools hold Purple Star status.⁶
Florida now has nearly 500 Purple Star schools across the state.
That's not an accident.
DeSantis built an entire infrastructure around supporting military families from the moment they decide to move to the Sunshine State.
https://twitter.com/HillsboroughSch/status/1988366667303342510?s=20
DeSantis Made Florida the Most Military-Friendly State in America
The Purple Star program sits at the center of a much broader strategy DeSantis implemented to make Florida the gold standard for military support.
The Heroes in the Classroom Bonus Program provides a one-time sign-on bonus for retired first responders and veterans who become full-time classroom teachers.⁷
The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity ensures seamless school placement, enrollment, and records transfers for children of active-duty military families.⁸
The Military Veterans Certification Pathway allows veterans to use military service toward temporary educator certificates, opening doors to education careers without starting from scratch.⁹
Florida guarantees military service members receive uniform postsecondary college credit based on their military courses, training, and occupations – recognizing that the skills they learned defending America have real value.¹⁰
DeSantis doesn't just talk about supporting troops.
He was a Navy JAG officer who deployed to Iraq. He understands what military families face because he lived it.
Compare that to California's Purple Star program, which designated only 44 schools in 2024 after three years of existence.¹¹
Or look at states that don't even have Purple Star programs yet.
They're scrambling to catch up while Florida keeps adding more support programs.
Florida Gulf Coast University became a Collegiate Purple Star Campus this year after establishing comprehensive benefits for veterans including priority registration, dedicated military liaisons, and the Peer Assistance for Transitioning Heroes mentorship program.¹²
Navy veteran Danielle Baynum, who coordinates the PATH program at FGCU, explained why these resources matter.
"People don't realize how difficult it is to transition out of service. It's a huge culture shock. You kind of lose a sense of purpose. I truly recommend if a veteran is struggling at all, they need to find as much support as they can."¹³
That support starts in elementary school and continues through college in Florida.
https://twitter.com/nwfstatecollege/status/1883993641737499060?s=20
The state reserves 5% of open enrollment seats specifically for military students and exempts dependents of Armed Forces members from waitlist limitations.¹⁴
DeSantis empowered military families to maximize school choice options while other states make them jump through bureaucratic hoops.
Florida treats military service members like the heroes they are instead of inconvenient complications for administrators.
The difference shows up in the numbers.
Florida has the third-largest veteran population in the country.
Nearly 94,000 veterans live in Southwest Florida alone.¹⁵
They're moving to Florida because DeSantis created an environment where military families know they won't get lost in the system.
Their kids won't fall through the cracks every time they change duty stations.
And when service members transition to civilian life, Florida provides pathways to new careers in education, entrepreneurship, or whatever field they choose.
State Board of Education member Layla Collins, a veteran herself and wife of a Purple Heart recipient, summed it up perfectly. "Our Purple Star Schools and Campuses exemplify what it means to go above and beyond for military-connected students."¹⁶
Other states talk about supporting the troops during campaign season.
Florida built a comprehensive system that actually delivers results year after year.
That's the difference between virtue signaling and genuine commitment.
And it's why military families choosing where to settle down keep picking Florida.
¹ Michelle Vecerina, "Florida honors military families, designates over 450 schools and 16 colleges with Purple Star recognition," Florida Politics, November 10, 2025.
² – ¹⁰ Ibid.
¹¹ "SPI Announces 2024 California Purple Star Schools," California Department of Education, Year 2024.
¹² "Purple Star status recognizes FGCU's dedication to veterans," FGCU 360, November 11, 2025.
¹³ Ibid.
¹⁴ "Governor Ron DeSantis Signs Transformational Legislation to Expand School Choice Options," Florida Department of Education.
¹⁵ "Purple Star status shows how FGCU is meeting needs of students, community," Fort Myers News-Press, November 8, 2025.
¹⁶ Michelle Vecerina, "Florida honors military families, designates over 450 schools and 16 colleges with Purple Star recognition," Florida Politics, November 10, 2025.
