Utah Education

KUER’s Jon Reed responded to a school district's call for help by filling in as a sub. The situation is not as dire anymore, but that doesn’t mean it’s no longer a problem.

The session started off with an intense focus on the COVID-19 pandemic. But after that, the focus shifted to tax cuts, culture wars and water conservation.

Who should be in charge of what gets taught in schools? The Utah Legislature tackles Critical Race Theory.

The bill would require that public school boards create an “open process” involving parents to review and recommend teachers’ instructional materials. Many teachers say the move is unnecessary and sends the wrong message.

The latest Utah news from Tuesday morning, Jan. 25, 2022

Utah lawmakers began the process of budgeting the state’s public education system Wednesday. Top concerns include addressing inflation and staffing shortages.

KUER education reporter Jon Reed recapped the year in education. He said new, more contagious COVID-19 variants threw a wrench in the plans for a return to normal.

Amid the growing calls from parents to remove books from Utah schools due to inappropriate materials, Utah librarians have released a 20-page e-book to help address and navigate the issue.

The Utah State Board of Education is responding to public concern over inappropriate books in libraries, saying it will work “quickly but carefully” to address the issue.

After a student showed up in Black face and another dressed as a Klansman for Halloween, Sky View High School held an assembly to address racism and diversity. But it was a video about privilege that sparked controversy.

While most colleges around the country have seen declining enrollments in recent years, Utah colleges saw a more than 2% increase this year. Attendance at Salt Lake Community College, however, dropped for the second year in a row.

The National School Boards Association recently wrote a letter to the Biden administration to help with threats against school board members. Utah’s School Board Association says that’s the wrong approach to calming tensions at meetings.