Utah Education

Utah State University is navigating legislative budget cuts, budget reallocations and an overhaul of its general education budget.

The bill that creates a new Center for Civic Excellence at Utah State University quickly moved through the Legislature, leaving the school with “a non-ideal timeline” to be involved in it.

Lawmakers have clearly told Utah universities and colleges that they need to decide which of their educational programs get more money and which will get less. If they don’t, they could lose millions.

Sen. John Johnson’s proposed curriculum would be “rooted in the foundational text and traditions of Western civilization.” It would start at USU but could be expanded statewide.

Unlike previous years, lawmakers seem to be steering clear of pushing through some of the most controversial bills within the first two weeks.

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.

“It's important to have people in positions of power who have the lived experiences of a lot of these students in the district,” said 20-year-old Jackson Lewis, who is one of the newest members of the Canyons School District Board of Education.

Roessel, a former director of the federal Bureau of Indian Education and president of the first tribal college to be established in the U.S., has died. He was 63.

“Just the sheer number of bills that have created new rules, programs and reports for districts, it’s become overwhelming, especially in the last few years,” said Utah School Boards Association President Teri Rhodes.

The state’s largest teachers union argues Utah’s newest and largest voucher program is unconstitutional. The state disagrees.

“Our second and our third graders stayed very stagnant; it was about exactly the same as where we were the year before. We've kind of hit a plateau,” Julie Clark with the Utah State Board of Education said of reading at grade level by the end of the 2023-2024 school year.

Each year since Gov. Spencer Cox took office there has been an uptick in the total money pitched for the state budget. This year’s ask is $30.6 billion.