While education officials may complain about the cost of charter schools, they concede charters are better than the state giving parents tax credits for private school tuition. And they give Leavitt glowing reports for holding the line against tuition tax credits, often putting him at odds with the Republican Party, over the past three legislative sessions.

"He wouldn't support tuition tax credits, and I think that's very helpful in keeping tax dollars in the Uniform School Fund and supporting public education," said Ralph Haws, a Jordan Board of Education member who lobbies the Legislature for the Utah School Boards Association.

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Leavitt opposes tuition tax credits because of what he calls Utah's unique situation: Here, some 97 percent of all school-aged kids choose to attend public schools. Even if you tripled private school enrollment, there would still be well over 90 percent of Utah's nearly half-million kids in public schools.

"If I were in a state where there were enough private schools to begin affecting the system, I think I might feel quite differently," Leavitt said.

But that stance doesn't endear him to parents looking for more radical changes.

"Every year he comes out with 'this year's new thing,' " Van Tassell said. "If we still have constant calls for education reform . . . (and) if after 11 years in office he can't calm some of those waters, his record is less than stellar."

By the numbers

There are other waters Leavitt has been unable to calm, despite seemingly stellar performance.

Public school funding is up 60 percent to just under $2 billion under Leavitt's watch. Enrollment increased about 3.5 percent at the same time. Class sizes dropped an average four students. Teacher's salaries have increased 43.5 percent.