One we all should be tracking is Senate Bill 102, the Public Education Funding Modifications. This bill proposes a sunset for nine programs and reallocating funds from specific line-item, statewide programs—like Dual Language Immersion, Concurrent Enrollment, Beverly Taylor Sorenson Fine Arts, and Digital Teaching and Learning—into a “Flexible Allocation” account. Each of these programs adds excellent value to students across the state and have been proven to be extremely successful.
For example, the Concurrent Enrollment program had over 53,000 students participate in early college courses, saving Utah families over $108 million in tuition costs alone last year. If a repeal (or “sunset”) occurs, this program would be lost, and the opportunity for our high school students to earn college credit would be extremely limited and much more costly to families. Such disruption would damage a program that has been phenomenally successful and served as a flagship program in Utah for years. Similar consequences would be felt across the eight other programs impacted.
Senate Bill 111, Public Education Governance Amendments, would alter the selection process for hiring the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. This bill proposes that the elected members of the State Board of Education would need to consult and receive consent from the Utah Senate. Article X Section 3 of the Utah Constitution is clear: “The State Board of Education shall appoint a State Superintendent of Public Instruction.” Inserting the Senate in this process (even in an “advise and consent” role) represents a fundamental change to the Constitution and should require voter approval.
Let’s remain vigilant as the session begins to stay informed and make our perspectives known to our legislators. It is important that they understand how the constituents they represent feel about these issues and more.
