State Board proclaims April as Month of the Military Child and adopts April observances for apprenticeships and Purple Up

The Nebraska State Board of Education on April 4 adopted resolutions recognizing services to military-connected students and celebrating apprenticeship programs.

The board unanimously adopted a resolution designating April 2025 as the Month of the Military Child and naming April 23, 2025, as Purple Up for Military Kids Day. The resolution thanked veterans, active duty and reserve service members and their families, noted that Nebraska recognizes 56 Purple Star Schools that have created or strengthened supports for military-connected students, and directed the Nebraska Department of Education to continue building coalitions to support military-connected children.

In a separate resolution adopted the same day, the board proclaimed April 30, 2025, as National Apprenticeship Day in Nebraska and encouraged citizens to recognize apprenticeship programs that blend on-the-job training with academic instruction. Lane Carr of the Department of Education and apprenticeship staff described expanded partnerships with the Nebraska Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of Labor, community colleges and universities; NDE staff said they will follow up in June with more information and stories about apprenticeship expansion.

Both motions were adopted by roll call with eight affirmative votes. The board requested future presentations with additional details on the apprenticeship program expansion and the work of NDE apprenticeship staff.

Ending: The board presented signed copies of each resolution to staff; no budget appropriation for the proclamations was announced at the meeting.