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
The political reality of trying to abolish the Department of Education
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
The political reality of trying to abolish the Department of Education
Striking the balance in educational involvement #utpol #studentsuccess
Insights & Takeaways
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.
InsightsRewarding teachers who make curriculum accessible to parents
New polling shows that parents and teachers diverge on curriculum accessibility. Voluntary incentive programs could help close the gap.
Press ReleaseUtah’s 2025 Education Policy Agenda
New survey data from Sutherland Institute highlights parent-teacher perception gap.
InsightsPublic schools in 2025: enrollment and key issues
Among the issues Utah education leaders have championed are expanding CTE, addressing absenteeism, and helping English language learners.
CommentaryNational politics may shake up the federal approach to education. Utah should stay the course
Utahns simultaneously support education choice and better public schools.
InsightsHow Utah can prohibit address discrimination in open enrollment policy
Public policy ought to ensure a student’s residential address is not a reason to deny an application to transfer to another school.