
Policy
Education
Human beings are magnificent. We were born with a God-given ability to learn and the capacity to grow. As Aristotle put it, “All men by nature desire to know.” Education is broader than any one school system. It’s a series of opportunities to learn, which should be delivered in ways that allow us to meet the unique needs of children. The growing diversity of our student population requires an equitable education for every child, which contemplates both productive citizenship and employment and which is delivered by the best teachers – whoever they are.
This vision for education requires humility and the pursuit of good ideas – wherever they come from. We can achieve this by empowering parents to create learning paths as unique as the student, rejecting approaches that undermine decision-making authority of those closest to the student, respecting taxpayers as owners of the public education system, and protecting the marketplace of options and the innovators who contribute to it. Education is necessary because each individual has the potential to accomplish great things. Education should reflect these truths, and we believe it can.
Conversations
-
Find the right education option for your child
-
Find the right education option for your child
-
Utah Schools Navigator: Helping families find the right educational fit
-
Parents know their children best
-
The education debate that's changing America
-
Should every child go to the same type of school?
-
Who decides where kids go to school?
-
The growing demand for school choice
-
Why one education system cannot work for every child
Insights & Takeaways
-

Educators recognize the need to prioritize civics education
Read More: Educators recognize the need to prioritize civics educationTwo recent reports back up what Sutherland found in a 2021 survey: Improving civics education in Utah means placing greater emphasis on civics in school curriculum and instruction.
-

Owens: The role of parents in education
Read More: Owens: The role of parents in educationIn the United States, the legal protection of parental rights has been closely linked to the educational context, as illustrated in three major Supreme Court cases.
-

Education choice continues to flower in Utah
Read More: Education choice continues to flower in UtahUtah’s virtual school programs are serving thousands of students and their families in ways that traditional, in-person school never could.
-

Data on trust suggest a need to restore the civic mission of public schools
Read More: Data on trust suggest a need to restore the civic mission of public schoolsAs civics and history education have fallen down the priority list of subjects taught in public schools – deprioritizing the civic mission that was a primary purpose for creating a…
-

Virtual high schools’ success highlights value of ed choice
Read More: Virtual high schools’ success highlights value of ed choiceA Salt Lake Tribune story about the success of a virtual high school highlights the importance of policies that ensure every student has access to a robust set of education…
-

Insights into civics education from UVU’s ‘State of Civics’ report
Read More: Insights into civics education from UVU’s ‘State of Civics’ reportEducators’ survey responses point out the need to emphasize civics in elementary grades, improve civics standards, and increase resources for civics teachers.
-

State School Board District 4 primary debate – June 8
Read More: State School Board District 4 primary debate – June 8Republican primary candidates for Utah State Board of Education District 4 will debate next Wednesday, June 8, via YouTube.
-

Scholars scrutinize civics and history in Utah’s higher ed institutions
Read More: Scholars scrutinize civics and history in Utah’s higher ed institutionsConstructive criticism is part of the spirit of higher learning – and an opportunity for higher education institutions to confirm or rebuild (as the case may be) the public’s trust…
-

Polls suggest parents, teachers should influence curriculum
Read More: Polls suggest parents, teachers should influence curriculumThose polled seem to agree that curriculum decisions should be influenced most by people closest to schools and students rather than by those in state and national capitals.











