POLICY CHECKLIST
K - 12 EDUCATION
Invest in Career and Technical Education programs
Reduce burdens for students, teachers, and parents
Expand individualized opportunities
HIGHER EDUCATION
Reinvest funding to maximize value for students and taxpayers
Streamline and align programs with Utah’s pressing workforce needs
Increase investments in technical education
Education is crucial for improving lives, developing a skilled workforce, and fostering innovation. Utah's strong education system is reflected in our excellent student outcomes, exceptional teachers, and strong family engagement. We are committed to providing an education system – from Kindergarten to post-secondary certificates and degrees – that excels at preparing the rising generation for both the challenges and opportunities of the modern world.
K-12 EDUCATION
Utah's education outcomes are dollar for dollar, the best in the country. The partnership between educators, students, and parents is vital in achieving these outcomes. This session, we will build on our success by fostering a learning environment where students excel, reducing burdens, and expanding individualized opportunities.
INVEST IN CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Every student deserves to have an education that will set them up to thrive. For many of our students, career and technical education (CTE) programs are the path that keeps them engaged and provides the skills and opportunities to succeed, often right out of high school. We will increase opportunities for students to get real-world skills and credentials that complement their traditional education and put them in the driver's seat for success after graduation.
REDUCE BURDENS FOR STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND PARENTS
Last session we eliminated the burden of school fees for curricular coursework. This session we are putting the final pieces in place to keep financial burdens low for Utah students while still providing a wide array of educational opportunities.
EXPAND INDIVIDUALIZED OPPORTUNITIES
More individualized education choices for students and parents means more students have the opportunity to learn and succeed the way that works best for them. Last year, the number of Utah Fits All Scholarship applicants far exceeded the number of available spots. This year we will continue to expand opportunities for students to learn in a way that fits their individual needs.
HIGHER EDUCATION
Utah’s institutions of higher education play a critical role in supporting our dynamic economy, training our future workforce, promoting well-rounded citizens, and conducting groundbreaking research.
REINVEST FUNDING TO MAXIMIZE VALUE FOR STUDENTS AND TAXPAYERS
But over time, administrative costs have grown and higher education has drifted away from its core mission of providing students with the key skills and knowledge they need to succeed in today’s workforce. Higher education is also on the cusp of a new era. The U.S. college-age population is expected to decline significantly over the next two decades. Utah has a few more years of projected growth before our college-age population also begins to decline.
STREAMLINE AND ALIGN DEGREE PROGRAMS WITH UTAH'S PRESSING WORKFORCE NEEDS
A recent legislative audit underscores the need to better align higher education programs with workforce needs. The audit highlights cases of Utah institutions offering duplicative programs despite low student interest. For example, four institutions offered the same bachelor’s degree program but only graduated a combined 14 students statewide in 2022.
At the same time, our growing state needs more highly skilled engineers, nurses, teachers, and mental health professionals. Utah has the fastest-growing life sciences industry in the country. We need more STEM graduates to fill these high-paying, high-growth jobs.
Working in partnership with our universities, we will trim administrative costs, consolidate underperforming programs, and reinvest the savings to expand high-demand programs that deliver strong employment opportunities for graduating students – and maximize the return on investment for Utah students and taxpayers.
Graduating students faster, with degree programs better aligned with today’s workforce needs, will lower costs for students and benefit employers and universities. We will work with the Utah Board of Higher Education to reduce unnecessary credit requirements and limit the number of bachelor’s degree programs that require more than four years to complete.
INCREASE INVESTMENTS IN TECHNICAL EDUCATION
Utah's eight technical colleges strengthen the state's workforce by providing accessible, high-quality technical education tailored to meet the demands of local industries, from healthcare and information technology to skilled trades. Through partnerships with local businesses, they ensure that courses remain aligned with current job market needs. We will increase investments in technical education to continue building our skilled workforce and boosting economic growth.
