The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has awarded Purple Star Campus Designations to ILTexas College Station K8 and ILTexas Keller K8 for the 2026-27 school year, recognizing the campuses for demonstrating support and commitment to meeting the unique needs of military-connected students and their families. 

ILTexas was founded by U.S. Marine Corps veteran and current Superintendent Eddie Conger, reflecting a connection to military service that remains deeply rooted throughout the organization.

“ILTexas is filled with veterans from across all branches of the military, and many more of our employees were raised in military families with mothers or fathers who served on active duty,” Conger said. “It is a great honor for all of us at ILTexas to have two of our campuses designated as Purple Star Campuses. We are both humbled and deeply appreciative of this recognition of the service and sacrifice of our families.”

Created by the 86th Texas Legislature, the Purple Star Campus Designation recognizes Texas public schools and open-enrollment charter schools that have established specific programs, resources and practices to support students and families connected to the United States military. The designation will remain in effect for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years. 

For military-connected students, transitioning to a new school can bring unique challenges. Students may experience frequent moves, adjust to new schools and communities, or navigate periods when a parent or guardian is deployed. Purple Star campuses demonstrate an intentional commitment to helping students and families navigate those transitions and feel connected to their school community.

What It Takes to Become a Purple Star Campus

The Purple Star designation represents more than recognition. Campuses must meet specific eligibility requirements established by the state to demonstrate that systems are in place to support military-connected families.

To qualify, a campus must:

• Designate a campus-based military liaison;
• Create and maintain an accessible campus webpage with information and resources for military-connected students and families;
• Establish a campus transition program to support students entering a new school community; and
• Offer an additional initiative demonstrating support for military-connected students and families. 

Those additional initiatives may include recognizing Month of the Military Child or Military Family Month, adopting a resolution demonstrating support for military-connected families, or partnering with a school liaison officer to create opportunities involving active-duty military members. 

For ILTexas College Station and ILTexas Keller, earning the designation reflects the work of campus leaders, counselors, teachers and staff to ensure military-connected students have resources and support available as they become part of the ILTexas community.

That commitment also reflects the ILTexas core value of "Others Before Self" and the charter's emphasis on developing servant leaders who understand the importance of supporting others within their schools and communities.

As Purple Star designees, the campuses will receive official Purple Star recognition to display and will be recognized by both the Office of the Governor and the Texas Education Agency. Their Purple Star status will also be featured on TXSchools.gov, allowing military families searching for school information to identify schools that have demonstrated a commitment to serving military-connected students. 

ILTexas is proud of the students, families and staff at ILTexas College Station and ILTexas Keller and remains committed to creating welcoming school communities where every student has the opportunity and support to thrive.

*For state reporting purposes, the Texas Education Agency may identify elementary and middle school grade levels as separate campus entities, even when those grade levels are part of the same ILTexas school community. On TEA's official 2026-27 Purple Star Campus Designation list, the recognized entities are listed as ILTexas College Station Middle School and ILTexas Keller Elementary School.