The Story
By 2050, Utah falls further behind other states that lead in education. As Utah’s population increases, investment per student is comparatively low as Utah doesn’t continue to allocate funds to cover growth. We make no strategic changes to improve education. Parents and families do not become more involved in their children’s education. Because we lack regular review and improvement of our academic standards and do not improve our system of tracking progress, students most in need of assistance fall behind. The increasing cost of higher education (e.g., certificate programs, community colleges, and universities) and a shortage of loans and grants prevent many students, particularly lower income students, from completing certificate or degree programs. In this scenario, education is characterized by:
- High student-to-teacher ratios.
- Low teacher compensation, professional support, and development.
- Limited investment in early childhood education, including all-day kindergarten.
- Lack of capacity and resources in higher education to help students complete degree programs.
Utah does not produce the highly educated workforce needed to attract high-wage jobs and businesses. Average wages and tax revenues in Utah are relatively low, and the number of Utahns requiring social services and assistance increases.
Results
- Number of students functioning at grade level and meeting testing standards decreases.
- Percent of people graduating from high school and higher education declines slightly.
- 80% of high school students graduate.
- 43% of all Utahns have a post-secondary certificate or degree.
- Fewer students have access to high-quality educational resources and opportunities.
Background
The benefits of education extend beyond individual students. Having an educated population leads to a better quality of life across the entire state. Those with post-secondary education particularly have higher earning potential and better job prospects and tend to be more civically engaged through voting and volunteering. They also tend to be healthier and have a high quality of life and are much less likely to be incarcerated. Furthermore, an educated populace leads to a reduction in crime and the need for social services (e.g., food stamps, unemployment benefits, etc.) and attracts innovation, which leads to a robust economy.
A number of education strategies may substantially impact students’ educational success. Voluntary high-quality preschool and all-day kindergarten programs, particularly for children at risk of falling behind their peers, raise educational performance, increase cognitive gains, and improve social skills. Rigorous standards, ongoing assessments of math and reading skills, and targeted interventions help ensure students become college and career ready. In addition, active involvement from parents and families in a child’s education can significantly improve that child's achievement.
Though many educational performance indicators in Utah are improving, they are dropping in comparison to other places in and outside the United States where educational improvements are being implemented faster. In Utah, not enough students are graduating from high school or from higher education institutions to meet the needs of future employers.
The largest portion of education funding comes from state income taxes, followed by property taxes, some federal taxes, and other sources. Like many states, Utah’s per-student public education funding declined significantly during the recession. That trend has reversed and the governor and legislature have improved funding for education, though we have not quite yet returned to pre-recession state funding levels. The investment we make in education in the next few years could have a significant impact on Utahns and our economy over the next thirty-five years.
The national economy is changing, and more jobs now require degrees or certification beyond high school. To be competitive in a global economy, Utah will need a highly-educated populace.
Note: The tax expenditure and revenue analysis is based on the assumption that in certain scenarios, more people receive diplomas, certificates, and degrees, and therefore earn higher wages and pay more taxes. Tax revenue is based on from the median earnings by educational attainment (no high school, high school diploma, certificate/associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, or graduate/professional degree), similar to a study conducted by the Utah System of Higher Education. An economic multiplier of 20% was included to estimate the impact of higher wages on the economy.
