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.
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.
Published Research
Conversations
Making up ground in education scores #utpol #education
How curriculum impacts civic decision-making #utpol
How school boards are the vestiges of true democracy #utpol #education
The burden of regulation on teachers' schedules #utpol
The need to end address discrimination
Adapting school districts to the new era of education
Will school districts overflow with open enrollment?
Making up ground in education scores #utpol #education
How curriculum impacts civic decision-making #utpol
How school boards are the vestiges of true democracy #utpol #education
Insights & Takeaways
InsightsCould Trump’s second term forever change federal education policy?
President-elect proposes using federal funding preferences for states that make changes like adopting complete curriculum transparency and universal school choice, among other reforms.
InsightsDespite support for education savings accounts, awareness of Utah Fits All remains low
Among other findings, survey indicates that education choice is officially no longer the lightning rod issue that it once was in Utah.
InsightsUtah’s open enrollment policy is strong – implementation less so
When districts do not faithfully implement Utah’s open enrollment law, they may be effectively denying parents practical access to better public schools for their child.
InsightsNew data highlights voter priorities in education
There is a stark difference in opinion about the quality of public education between parents and teachers.
TakeawaysUtah’s 2025 education agenda: What to expect for the parent-teacher partnership
What does the research say about Utah education and how are Utah leaders improving parent access to curriculum?
InsightsHow early traditions made school open enrollment necessary
Property tax for funding schools and redlining are among the reasons behind current neighborhood-based school assignments.
InsightsDoes access to information impact parent involvement in education?
Parents and teachers have different views on what stops parents from being more involved. Understanding what constitutes “enough information” for parents may be helpful.
InsightsWhat self-reports of parent and teacher efforts reveal for reform
Self-reports of teachers sharing curriculum and parent involvement highlight inconsistencies that public policy can help address.
InsightsHow information lag could be impacting the parent-teacher partnership
Recent polling shows that parents and teachers diverge on views of curriculum access and satisfaction with Canvas. Helping parents access what’s already available to them could help.
CommentaryUtah advanced parent-driven education but left reforms on the table
Legislators should explore improvements to open enrollment transparency for parents and find innovative ways to increase parent access to classroom curriculum.
InsightsSutherland Institute supports Utah’s new high school civics bill
Americans are faced with issues that make them wonder how our government works, but too few are equipped to engage meaningfully in the civic processes that surround us.
InsightsNew report and survey data highlight areas for open enrollment reform
Utah voters strongly support making information about open enrollment more transparent to parents.