school funding

Teachers want more per-pupil funding to better meet the needs of students and educators. Reducing high levels of stress and burnout is another priority.

“The ‘microschooling’ term definitely means different things to different people. And it’s still evolving,” said Tulane University economics professor Douglas Harris.

The problem Utah educators have with the bill is that it doesn’t provide any state funding to make up for the funds schools will lose.

Lawmakers put $42.5 million into the program, enough to cover about 5,000 students. Applications will open on Feb. 28, 2023.

After more than five decades, the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation will be getting a new school.

Lehi, Valley View, Lindon, Windsor and Sharon elementaries could all be closed as soon as this year.

Republican Rep. Robert Spendlove said the goal is to offer full-day kindergarten to all students statewide.

Several years of pandemic restrictions and curriculum battles have emboldened longtime advocates of funneling public funds to private and religious schools in statehouses throughout the country.

The bill that includes a pay raise for teachers and also creates a school voucher program is moving to the full Senate, its last hurdle before going to the governor.

The ballot initiative proposed leaving the Alpine School District to create an Orem-only school district.

Utah Education Association’s Policy and Research Director Jay Blain said voters should look for someone who is both willing to listen to the public and work collaboratively with other board members and the school district.

“I would say all teachers use their own money at some point,” said Utah Education Association President Renée Pinkney. “I know that a lot of elementary teachers, they spend an awful lot of their own money.”