Utah Legislature: Public education budget bill comes down to last day

SALT LAKE CITY — More drama is expected the final day of the Legislature Thursday as lawmakers continue to debate the bill that will set public education's budget for the upcoming school year.

State education leaders said they feel positive about the budget so far, because the cuts don't appear to be as deep as they thought, possibly $10 million to $15 million now instead of the earlier proposed $21 million.

"There is no question that public education fared as well as we could have expected. It was clearly the Legislature's highest priority," said state Superintendent Larry Shumway.

The weighted pupil unit, which is the state funding formula for students, is proposed to remain the same at $2,577, but 11,000 new students are expected to enter the system this fall, effectively reducing that per pupil amount.

"Is it going to be hard? Absolutely. Are there enormous challenges? Absolutely. Will the management of 11,000 students with fewer dollars be difficult? It will," Shumway said. "But given how bad it could have been … I look at this as a success."

Gov. Gary Herbert said, "This is a great day for education in Utah. This budget is as close to holding education funding at current levels as possible, given the realities of Utah's economic situation."

The education funding bill, SB2, sponsored by Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, passed in the Senate Wednesday 19-8. Debate over the legislation drew various opinions on which program should be cut more or less. Several failed amendments would have switched funds to what one lawmaker referred to as "pet projects."

SB2 is supposed to be debated in the House Thursday.

Where to spend $1.5 million in education funds that could be recouped by axing a state-required test for two years may turn into a showdown between two lawmakers.

Stephenson said the funds are better spent on furthering the piloting of computer adaptive testing.

Rep. David Litvack, D-Salt Lake, believes the money should be spent on school libraries and classroom supplies.

A computer-adaptive exam changes to fit a student's ability. For example, if a student answers a question correctly, the next question is different than it would have been if the previous question had been answered wrong.

"The tests are more comprehensive, more modern, simpler and less intrusive on instruction time," Stephenson said. "It's what our students deserve, it's what our teachers deserve. It gives accuracy to the assessment and immediacy to the results. It's an assessment dream."

Litvack says there is a perception that slashing school library funds aren't a cut to the classroom.

"I think a robust library, updated books, electronic resources, are critical to the quality of education that our youth receive," he said. "I think that has a direct impact on the classroom and the quality of education."

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