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.
InsightsHistory of parent-driven education: Part 4 – The rise of the modern home-schooling movement
The advent of modern home school – a radical reform for the time in which it began – grew from roots in both the political left and conservative Christian movements during the 1960s and ’70s.
InsightsHow a ruling on Amish water disposal signifies protection for all of us
The strength of our commitment to constitutional values is shown by our willingness to extend their protections to unfamiliar and controversial practices.
CommentaryThe ‘Utah family miracle’ and why it matters
Utah’s economic success cannot be separated from the strength and stability of its families.
Five Family Policy Recommendations Unveiled in New Sutherland Institute Report
Sutherland Institute announced today a new report titled “The Utah Family Miracle: Five Policy Ideas to Keep Utah Families Strong and Stable.”
InsightsCan faith save the planet?
Faith and religious organizations make an important contribution to protect our environment.
InsightsHistory of parent-driven education: Part 3 – Growth of federal education policy from early 1900s to 1980s
Federal education policy is as hotly debated today as ever before. The creation of the Department of Education did not come without controversy.
InsightsEmployer FAQ: Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
The new federal law aims to protect pregnant women from workplace discrimination. Here's what employers need to know moving forward.
CommentaryChanging the narrative on religion and the LGBTQ community
Church members of all stripes should feel comfortable engaging in conversations about faith with their LGBTQ brothers and sisters.
InsightsUtah’s middle class – where it stands and why it matters
Policymakers should pursue principled approaches that help facilitate pathways to – and affordability within – a middle-class life in Utah.
Biden administration’s proposed repeal of religious student protections illuminates continuing need for religious freedom
Although the formal protections of religious practice are retained in the federal Constitution (and every state constitution), the cultural backdrop is different today.
The next time good economic data hits the news, remember that families are driving it
When government leaders center the family institution in policymaking, they focus on the core financial driver of society.
Why Silicon Valley Bank failed, and what it means for Utahns
Utah banking official says that “everything we know and have learned tell us that the circumstances leading to the closure of these banks were very unique and bear little relationship to banks in Utah.”
How Congress could help make up for COVID learning loss
Originally published in the Washington Examiner. As the years during and after the pandemic have demonstrated, America is rethinking education. More families are homeschooling than ever. More states are passing flexible education choice scholarships — including...
How to remedy the West’s fractured election policies
The 2024 presidential election cycle is slowly building momentum with a new headline each day speculating on who will, or will not, announce a candidacy. As the campaigns accelerate, they will add fuel to the fire of election policy debates in the West.
Absenteeism and the success sequence
What’s at the root of chronic absenteeism in schools? How should we view this current new normal in our post-pandemic world? What do we do about it now?
States can learn from federal regulators how not to implement rules
New HHS rule may include welcome changes for healthcare workers
Colorado religious school asks Supreme Court to take case on ministerial exception
U.S. law recognizes that courts should not second-guess a religious organization’s choices of spiritual leaders. An ex-teacher’s lawsuit says his firing shouldn’t have been allowed.
Legislative wrap-up: Education policy’s new pluralism paradigm
Laws that were passed in the 2023 session support educating students using a holistic approach that includes public and private options.
