Education Funding

School psychologist Naomi Varuso said she’s observed a “severe increase in aggressive behavior — not just verbal aggression, but physical aggression.”

Los legisladores de Utah asignaron 65 millones de dólares para centros de educación técnica y profesional en escuelas K-12, después de visitar el Catalyst Center del Distrito Escolar de Davis. Líderes escolares dicen que este centro es diferente al modelo tradicional de formación vocacional.

The state’s largest universities, the University of Utah and Utah Valley University, plan to streamline their offerings by cutting low-enrollment programs and strengthening student “durable skills.”

Utah lawmakers allocated $65 million for K-12 career and technical education centers after visiting the Davis School District’s Catalyst Center. School leaders say it’s different from the traditional vocational training model.

While the restructuring prioritized Salt Lake Community College’s technical training and health sciences programs, leadership argues that the arts and humanities are still an important part of the school.

The High Quality School Readiness program pays for at-risk children to attend preschool, but it only serves 3% of Utah 4-year-olds.

State lawmakers are requiring Utah Tech University reallocate over $2.55 million in its budget, which means cutting certain programs. Every public college and university in the state has been tasked with a similar challenge.

Third District Judge Laura Scott's ruling found that the Utah Fits All Scholarship program violated the state’s constitution. But after meeting with the parties, she is allowing it to keep operating pending appeal.

The Ogden-based university will cut 17 majors, 8 minors and 7 certificates. It joins Utah State University as the first pair of schools to announce major changes following the Legislature’s academic overhaul.

“For all these reasons — public trust; accounting and legal challenges; protection of education funding; and the message to our educators — I’m vetoing the bill,” Gov. Spencer Cox wrote to lawmakers.

As the end of the session draws near, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, House Speaker Mike Schultz and Senate President Stuart Adams announced a wage increase of $278 million for teachers, support staff and district staff.

Dollars from the State Basic School Levy on Utahns’ property tax bills used to go directly to local districts. Lawmakers say the change is in the interest of state budget flexibility and giving schools more equitable funding in the future.