Insights & Takeaways is Sutherland Institute’s official blog that informs the public and policymakers alike. The blog addresses important issues through the two distinct yet complementary lenses of the seasoned policy professional and the engaged citizen.
Insights: analysis, research, and informed commentary from Sutherland experts. For elected officials and public policy professionals.
Takeaways: the most important things voters need to know. For civically engaged citizens.
InsightsShould we stop talking about ‘polarization’ in education policy?
Viewing today’s education policy issues outside of the framework of right-left politics may help us find our way forward in education reform.
InsightsHelping parents address chronic absenteeism
Utah education leaders and researchers note that there is no single reason to explain the uptick in absenteeism – the reasons are as varied as the students and families.
CommentaryHow to strengthen the ‘success sequence’ in Utah
Growing numbers of young adults across America — including here in Utah — are moving into adulthood without a durable connection to two benchmarks strongly connected to human well-being: work and marriage.
TakeawaysA Timeline of American Education
With education at the forefront of American politics, we provide a timeline of how American education has evolved from the Colonial era to the present day in terms of parent-driven education.
InsightsHistory of parent-driven education: Part 7 – Today’s post-pandemic era to the future of parent-driven options
While all states have accepted the responsibility of creating a universal, “free” (tax-supported) education system, some states see that the objective can now be met while including a range of options.
CommentaryStates should welcome religiously motivated foster parents
Massachusetts’s recent decision to deny a Catholic couple the ability to foster children due to their religious beliefs stands at odds with Supreme Court precedent, lower federal court decisions, and the needs of children.
InsightsDoes the Utah Constitution recognize a broad right to abortion?
The Utah Supreme Court has just concluded oral arguments in a challenge to the state’s abortion regulations.
InsightsHistory of parent-driven education: Part 6 – Vouchers, ESAs and pre-pandemic private-school choice
Even before the pandemic, education savings accounts and other types of education choice policies were gaining ground.
InsightsWisconsin says Catholic charity group isn’t religious enough
If the government gets to decide what religious organizations are “religious enough,” it could use that authority to privilege some religious beliefs over others.
Want to strengthen families? Support boys and men
Men need to empower other men by breaking the stigma of mental health and providing avenues for guidance and healthy masculinity.
If we want to strengthen families, we need to empower boys and men, not forget them
Strong families drive a strong economy and require healthy boys and men to function well. The ability of policy leaders to strengthen the family will be limited if we fail to empower boys and men.
Reject Biden’s one-size-fits-all approach and embrace a true pro-family vision
A new White House executive order seeks to “expand access to affordable, high-quality” child care. Though well-intentioned, the Biden administration is promoting a myopic approach to family policy.
Religious exemptions in abortion-related legislation can prevent distrust and confusion
Since the U.S. Supreme Court allowed states to regulate abortion in 2022, related state laws have become more numerous and prominent. This has raised concerns on both sides of the issue, including religious freedom concerns.
What an Arizona mom learned about the effects of parental involvement
Parents are often the reason why their students succeed and complete schooling, especially when those students have a specific hurdle to overcome.
Family structure impacts outcomes, so why isn’t Utah tracking it?
Students with involved parents do better in school, and that ought to prompt policymakers to better track family structure data.
How family impacts education – and why we should track it
Much of the national or state data surrounding outcomes and performance in education is commonly searchable by factors like gender, race or income. Why not family structure data?
Policymakers need to find Goldilocks level of involvement for family institution
Government should place the family institution on the same level of importance as government, business and education institutions.
What divorce taught me about family process
A relative and I had different family experiences while growing up, even though both of our formative family structures eventually dissolved. Our respective life outcomes were vastly different.
