LEHI, Utah -- Military and state education leaders gathered at the Lehi Adobe Center June 2 to formally induct 78 Utah schools into the Purple Star School Program.
The Purple Star designation is a state-sponsored recognition awarded to schools that demonstrate a strong commitment to the educational and social-emotional needs of military-connected children.
The ceremony officially welcomed the new schools into the statewide network. Following the inductions, Utah now has 179 designated Purple Star Schools, highlighting a significant momentum shift in how local communities support military-connected students and families.
Col. Andrew Miller, 75th Mission Support Group commander, and members of the Hill Air Force Base School Liaison Program attended the event to support the inductees.
“The strength of our mission at Hill Air Force Base relies heavily on the stability of our families,” Miller said. “Seeing an ever-increasing number of Utah schools and school districts committing to support our military-connected children ensures our service members can focus on their mission, knowing their kids are in educational environments that understand their unique challenges while also creating opportunities to quickly build new friendships and communities.”
The 2026 class of newly designated Purple Star Schools includes:
Alpine School District: 37 schools
Davis School District: 21 schools
Weber School District: 10 schools
Ogden School District: 2 schools
Jordan School District: 1 school
Utah Charter Schools: 7 schools
“Relocating is one of the most stressful parts of military life, and finding the right school is always a top priority for parents,” said Janet Seachris, school liaison at Hill AFB. “Having a robust, statewide network of Purple Star campuses means we can guide transitioning families to schools where staff are trained and ready to help military kids thrive from day one.”
State and military leaders are eager to see this footprint grow even larger.
Any Utah public, charter, or private school interested in building a military-friendly campus is encouraged to contact Cassie Hays at the Utah State Board of Education at cassie.hays@schools.utah.gov. Hays and the state’s Purple Star School Committee can guide administrators through the application criteria, provide staff training resources, and help them achieve the designation. More information and application materials can be found on the Utah State Board of Education's Purple Star Schools website.