The Story
Utah moderately increases investment in education. The state budget for education increases 3.4% per year until 2020. This does not require a tax increase because of projected growth for Utah’s economy and tax revenues. After 2020, funding keeps pace with student growth and inflation. We do not create a consistent, long-range plan or develop high-impact strategies for improvement. Because of intermittent interest in educational improvement, various programs are implemented sporadically and strategies for improvement are not coordinated, proven, or invested in over the long term. We switch from one set of standards to another, making it difficult to measure success over the long-term and provide assistance to students who need it. Parents and families do not become more involved in their children’s education. Overall, education is characterized by:
- Slightly improved student-to-teacher ratios.
- Moderate improvement in teacher compensation, training, and professional development.
- Increased investment in early childhood education but not targeted to those most at risk.
- Lack of collaboration between schools, community partners, and families.
- Investment in technology without a strategic approach or adequate teacher training.
- Slightly improved capacity and resources in higher education institutions to help students complete degree programs.
In addition, tuition assistance and capacity of higher education institutions increase slightly, causing the number of students who complete certificate or degree programs to also grow. However, as the nation moves toward a more highly skilled, knowledge-based economy, Utah has difficulty providing the workforce needed by emerging and growing companies. Economic growth and jobs remain relatively strong, but the median wage and tax revenues in Utah increase only slightly. The number of Utahns requiring social services and assistance does not substantially decrease.
Results
- Number of students functioning at grade level and meeting testing standards increases slightly.
- Percent of people graduating from high school and higher education is slightly higher than today.
- 85% of high school students graduate.
- 47% of all Utahns have a post-secondary certificate or degree.
- Only some 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.
