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
Striking the balance in educational involvement #utpol #studentsuccess
What should education instill in the next generation? #utpol #studentsuccess
Policies to help strengthen the parent-teacher partnership #utpol #studentsuccess
Rewarding teachers for going above and beyond #utpol #studentsuccess
The respective roles in different levels of government
Parent access begins in the classroom #utpol #studentsuccess #education
Striking the balance in educational involvement #utpol #studentsuccess
What should education instill in the next generation? #utpol #studentsuccess
Insights & Takeaways
InsightsUEA lawsuit filings offer 3 civics lessons
Voters should know that direct lawmaking in education rests with the Utah Legislature and not the Utah State Board of Education, the governor, or any other entity.
InsightsDoes Canvas give parents robust access to curriculum?
Widespread availability of Canvas isn’t the end of the quest for more parent access to learning tools – it should spark discussion about how to achieve a higher parent access standard.
InsightsWho governs education in Utah?
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has announced his new senior advisor of education, prompting interest in Cox’s education priorities. But in Utah, the governor has less direct policymaking influence in education than other entities. Here’s an explanation.
InsightsHow does the ‘YES’ program teach the success sequence?
Nonprofit offers research-based health education programs that could align well with Utah’s grade 7-12 standards and help teach outcomes of the success sequence.
InsightsCan new sexual development standards help teach ‘success sequence’?
A nonprofit that works to get information on sexual risk avoidance to youth across the nation has launched K-12 academic standards on optimal sexual development. Here’s how the standards can help teach the success sequence.
InsightsA look at the Love Notes curriculum
Evidence-based curriculum is aimed at helping kids create healthy relationships.
InsightsQuestions to candidates in debates reflect high interest in education choice
In both the gubernatorial and attorney general debates, candidates were asked about the lawsuit challenging Utah’s universal education choice program.
InsightsWhere could the success sequence fit in Utah academic standards?
Sutherland is reviewing the Utah Academic Standards and curriculum to find ways to bring this information to students in their prime decision-making years.
CommentaryPolicy objections to scholarship program don’t affect its constitutionality
The state courts are a forum for legal and constitutional reasoning, not a second chance for failed lobbying.
CommentaryHow Utah can increase parent access to curriculum
To advance the work of individual educators without overburdening them with new requirements, the Legislature could enact a program that rewards teachers who proactively make curriculum information accessible to parents in a robust way.
InsightsA framework for the congressional efforts in education policy
Congress can reduce its interference in K-12 education by changing the way it approaches education issues already on its desk.
TakeawaysHow Utah school boards, districts, lawmakers can close parent-access gap
Parent access to curriculum requires a strong parent-teacher partnership, but better implementation by the individual school districts and state is also necessary.