
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
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Find the right education option for your child
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Find the right education option for your child
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Utah Schools Navigator: Helping families find the right educational fit
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Parents know their children best
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The education debate that's changing America
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Should every child go to the same type of school?
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Who decides where kids go to school?
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The growing demand for school choice
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Why one education system cannot work for every child
Insights & Takeaways
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Utah State School Board candidates to debate
Read More: Utah State School Board candidates to debateThese debates give candidates running for the Utah State Board of Education time to discuss their stances on important issues, and for voters to meet, learn more about the individual…
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New study shows Americans know MORE about Constitution in 2020
Read More: New study shows Americans know MORE about Constitution in 2020Results from the survey conducted Aug. 4-9, 2020, show an uptick in Americans’ understanding of the U.S. Constitution. It appears that Americans are eager to learn, and when they are…
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Considering homeschooling? Here’s what parents with experience say
Read More: Considering homeschooling? Here’s what parents with experience sayTo parents considering some version of homeschooling because it might be the best fit in uncertain times, but lack confidence to do so – take heart. There is encouragement and…
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Google, pandemic, and a fragile economy are accelerating changes to higher ed
Read More: Google, pandemic, and a fragile economy are accelerating changes to higher edGoogle’s Career Certificate will likely compound the forces of change already at work in higher education.
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Sutherland Institute launches new series to examine how education standards prepare students to be active citizens
Read More: Sutherland Institute launches new series to examine how education standards prepare students to be active citizensIn a time of civil unrest, when people are scrutinizing America’s history more than ever, we should ask: Are Utah social studies standards doing their job?
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Utah Teacher of the Year: Be kind to each other in dizzying new territory
Read More: Utah Teacher of the Year: Be kind to each other in dizzying new territoryWhile it will be tempting to critique a teacher’s inchoate distance learning plan or criticize the layout of an online lesson, remember that the vast majority of teachers, like you,…
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Give parents flexibility in use of education funding – especially now
Read More: Give parents flexibility in use of education funding – especially nowShould Utah allow funds to follow the student rather than the school? With parent demand for school options growing rapidly and student needs becoming clearer, the answer is yes.
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Sutherland Institute launches new series to review civics education resources for parents
Read More: Sutherland Institute launches new series to review civics education resources for parentsSutherland Institute has long been committed to parents having the freedom to make educational decisions for their family – even more so during this time of uncertainty.
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Muscle up: Expert panel discusses new civics and ‘muscular activism’ as it relates to public ed
Read More: Muscle up: Expert panel discusses new civics and ‘muscular activism’ as it relates to public edA good civics education creates informed citizens (not just activists). It will recognize the importance of absolute truth and incorporate experiential learning. And it will require adequately trained teachers.











