November 5, 2017 [EDUCATIONAL SPENDING IN UTAH] Aimee Reid

Utah spends less than any other state per-pupil on education funding. According to the U.S. Census
Bureaus annual state education report, the state spent $6,575 per pupil in the 2014-2015 school year.
This, however, is not a recent issue. Utah has been on the tail end of funding since 1988, and it takes a
toll on the educational system. Teacher turnover is a major side effect of low funding, as it causes low
wages and large classroom sizes. It also shows its effects with poor yearly educational performance.
Most Utahns are unhappy the state remains in last place for educational funding and are calling for
change. The only way to make that change is for the state to consider a new tax policy.

National map of educational expenditures per pupil in 2012.

As you can see, Utah is one of few states who spend minimal dollars on each student per year. This is a
major cause for high teacher turnover, large classroom sizes and poor performance.

The national map shows surrounding states spend anywhere from 2,000-6,000 more per pupil, than
Utah, with a high variance from states in the East to states in the west. New York held the high coming
in at $19,818 per student, compared to Utahs $6,575.
A new initiative option called Our Schools Now calls for .005 increase in sales tax and .005 increase to
the states personal income tax. This would total $700 million dollars of additional funding money. This
initiative gives Utah voters the opportunity to participate in making decisions for future investments and
improvements in our schools. They are raising awareness of the high teacher turnover rates, low per-
pupil spending and classroom sizes and how this is all limiting student success. The initiative has to
receive enough signatures to make it to the ballot. If it is able to make the ballot, it would increase the
state income tax and invest an increase in educational performance improvement. Supporters of the
initiative are hopeful that it will make it on sooner than later because there are many students who will
be missing out on opportunities if it doesnt.
 November 5, 2017 [EDUCATIONAL SPENDING IN UTAH] Aimee Reid

We have to generate an additional $70 million per year just to break even and keep
classroom sizes where theyre at. Gary Herbert

Utah Governor Gary Herbert addresses the Utah Education Association. He spoke about how proud he
was of how much money he has put into the states education system. Because of the additional
funding, Utah schools are seeing higher graduation rates as well as an increase in ACT and NAEP scores.
Despite the additional spending, Utah still sits in last place for spending per student in the nation and
some of the largest classroom sizes.

Utah teachers are questioning why they continue to stay in their profession, other than they enjoy it and
enjoy trying to make a difference for the students. They arent getting paid what they think they deserve
for the effort they are putting in. Jolyn Metro, a kindergarten teacher at Foxboro Elementary in North
Salt Lake has had 54 students this year in her two French immersion classes. She says that it is
overwhelming trying to fit in math, social studies and science on top of teaching the students how to
read in a 2 hour time limit. She goes on to say that she cant give the necessary one-on-one attention
that she believes they deserve in order to gain a good education.

I cant give the necessary one-on-one attention that they need in order to provide them with
the education that they deserve. Jolyn Metro

Governor candidate Mike Weinholtz feels teachers across the state are overwhelmed and under paid,
which he believes is unacceptable. He would like to get the state back to the middle of the pack in terms
of per student spending, rather than dead last. He is a firm supporter of a tax increase along with 70
percent of Utahns, taken from a recent poll. He says if he is unable to convince the legislature as
governor, then he would support a proposal to place a ballot question in front of voters inquiring about
tax increases. Utahns rank K-12 education as one of their top three concerns, so it would be in the best
interest of the state to take the question to the ballot.
 November 5, 2017 [EDUCATIONAL SPENDING IN UTAH] Aimee Reid

Governor Gary Herbert and candidate Mike Weinholtz shake hands

The conclusion of the 2016 legislative session provided $90 million to fund new student growth, and
added 3 percent to the Weighted Pupil Unit. It also provided $15 million for technology grants, $20
million for charter schools, $6 million in teacher supply money and $5.7 million for the arts programs.
With 2.5 percent of the 3 percent increase on the WPU already being used to cover current costs, it left
little funding for addressing teacher shortages and reducing current class sizes.

School buses parked outside the Utah State Capital

Utahns need to take a stand for their education and for their children. This is the future generation we
are talking about. Their development, education and future reside in our hands. If we cant make a
difference in the education, then we are settling. They deserve similar educational opportunities and
experiences that the kids in the rest of the nation are receiving. We need to take pride in our education
and make it great again.
November 5, 2017 [EDUCATIONAL SPENDING IN UTAH] Aimee Reid

WORKS CITED

Havens, Emily, Bad News for Utahs K-12 kids: Were worst in the nation,again,
for funding them, The Spectrum, 28 June, 2017
http://www.thespectrum.com/story/news/2017/06/28/bad-news-utahs-k-12-
kids-were-worst-nation-again-funding-them/413274001/

Evans, Whittney, Weinholtz Challenges Governor Herbert On Commitment To

Funding Education, Kuer1, 25 October, 2017
http://kuer.org/post/weinholtz-challenges-governor-herbert-commitment-
funding-education#stream/0

Bammes, Dan, Utah Thrives: Education Funding, Utah Foundation, 18 January,

2017. http://www.utahfoundation.org/2017/01/utah-thrives-education-
funding/

Education Spending Per Student by State, Governing The State and Localities,
http://www.governing.com/gov-data/education-data/state-education-
spending-per-pupil-data.html

Our Schools Now, about our schools now, https://ourschoolsnow.com/about/