UTAH STATE CAPITOL—The sponsors of HB215 passed in last year’s legislative session that set aside $42.5 million in ongoing funds to create the Utah Fits All Scholarship, are now asking for an additional $50 million for the program. The bill would give up to $8,000 to qualifying students in private or homeschool settings which would cover about 5,000 children. 

Rep. Candice Pierucci and Sen. Kirk Cullimore came before the Executive Appropriations Committee on Jan. 31 and asked for the additional money because demand for the program is high. 

“The program doesn’t start until the 2024-2025 school year,” said a member of the Communications Subcommittee from the Joint Legislative Committee (JLC) that is made up of superintendents and local school board representatives from the districts. “It hasn’t even started yet so there’s no evidence it’s a good investment.”

Public education students can apply for the scholarship, he said. “But if they get the $8,000 they have to use it in a private or homeschool setting.”

If the $42 million was allocated equitably to all school districts and charters schools, Davis District would receive approximately $4.4 million ongoing dollars as their share, he said. “That money ($42 million) could help the 673,000 public school students statewide and the voucher only helps about 5,000. Every kid would benefit if that could happen.”

There are so many things that money could be used for such as mental health, the member said. “We know there is a mental health issue with young people so if we chose just to focus on that in Davis District then the following positions could be hired in the district.”

• Elementary school counselors – to have a full-time counselor in every elementary school, the district would have to hire an additional 14 full-time elementary counselors. Cost: $1,233,176

• Integrated Education Therapists (IETs) who provide clinical interventions and support services to students across the district – currently there are four K-12 IETs working in 91 schools. Funding would increase IETs from four to 10. Cost: $528,504

• Family Advocates – increase from 35 advocates to 50 advocates in elementary schools. Cost: $359,400

• School psychologists – increase from 34 school psychologists to 45. Cost: $968,924

• School nurses – currently there are 23 part-time and four full-time nurses to serve 72,000 students. An additional six full-time nurses would decrease the ratio of students to nurses from 2,866 to 2,181. Cost: $600,000.

• Allocated amount to Davis School District – $4,400,000. Total costs for services listed above – $3,690,004.

The committee will make the decision on the additional funding, it won’t go before the full legislature, said the member. “It’s scary that it’s just the committee. They’re just piggybacking on last year’s bill.”

There’s no accountability with the program either, he said. “At the end of the year the school or parent just hands in a portfolio showing what they worked on. There’s no testing. How can the legislature come back and say it is or isn’t working? Utahns need to write to their legislative leaders and let them know how they feel about this.”