Many bills passed by the Utah Legislature during the 2019 General Session focused on increasing educational funding. The goal of these increases was to provide Utah with a more well-rounded education system to provide students with the necessary resources and skills they need to enter the workforce.
The passing of the “Bill of Bills,” which goes beyond base budget legislation, passed early in the session to increase funding beyond the minimum established in previous years. S.B. 3 Appropriations Adjustments, sponsored by Sen. Jerry Stevenson, demonstrated Utah’s commitment to improving its education system. The budget provided $250 million more of ongoing money for public education.
To focus on greater investment in Utah schools S.B. 149 Teacher and Student Success Act, sponsored by Sen. Ann Millner, is a new form of educational funding. It promotes local control and innovation in tackling school improvement and provides money to be used for teacher’s salaries.
The number of high-need schools in Utah has increased in recent years; it’s becoming more difficult to retain teachers in their crucial profession. In response, S.B. 115 High Need School Amendments, sponsored by Sen. Kathleen Riebe, offered a matching grant to schools that go toward hiring teachers in their first year of teaching. This allows for greater flexibility in our classrooms by allowing for smaller class sizes. S.B. 115 was passed with the goal of teacher retention by proactively relieving some of the stress Utah’s teachers face.
Grants and scholarship programs were also passed during the 2019 session. With the growing concern over the affordability of higher education, the legislature continually explores ways to remove barriers for those looking to acquire the necessary education and skills needed to succeed in the workforce. H.B. 260 Access Utah Promise Scholarship Program, sponsored by Sen. Evan Vickers, established a scholarship focusing on those who would otherwise be unable to pay for school.
Along with affordability and a need for more teachers, the increased demand for computer science jobs in our state has been noted. Only eight percent of STEM graduates in Utah majored in computer science. H.B. 227 Utah Computer Science Grant Act, sponsored by Sen. Millner, sought to build our capacity for computer science education in our schools by establishing a grant program to aid in the implementation and training of teachers. The goal is to make a course available in every school by 2022. Looking forward, the legislature will continue to prioritize improving Utah’s educational system.
Tags: Education, Education funding