Utah's K-3 reading program funding comes under scrutiny

SALT LAKE CITY — A Senate committee unanimously advanced a bill Monday that details how the money should be spent in $30 million kindergarten-third grade reading program that has come under the scrutiny of some lawmakers.

"Right now, we know that that funding is threatened," sponsoring Sen. Karen Morgan, D-Salt Lake, told the Senate Education Committee on Monday. "Instead of just cutting that line item and getting rid of that funding, I'm saying, let's keep the vital program in place."

Morgan's bill, SB63, specifies some uses for the money, specifically reading assessments, tutoring, after school and summer programs, and technology and software. Morgan, who also sits on the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee, said she knows some of her colleagues dispute the success of the reading improvement program, and some lawmakers don't think districts are using that money the way they should.

"I haven't made those accusations," Morgan said. "But there are those in the Legislature who actually have."

Morgan's bill is a response to that.

"We wanted to put in a little bit more accountability, transparency in this so we've added in some specifics," Morgan said.

The current program is a 50-50 matching program, where districts dedicate an amount equal to or greater than the state's contribution. The law requires that nearly half of the funding a school receives go toward low-income students. It requires participating districts and charter schools to submit plans to the State Board of Education for how they will use the money and submit an annual report accounting for their expenses.

Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, said he isn't convinced districts that get the money are expanding their focus on K-3 reading. During tight budget years, districts might rely on the state's contribution to solely fund reading improvement, and use the money they previously spent on the program in other areas, he said.

"I think this money if fungible," Stephenson said. "How can we be sure that the report on the appropriation of this roughly $30 million was not supplanted by other expenses?"

Stephenson said he would prefer if the program required districts to spend the money on specific things, like reading software that he has seen work in the classroom.

"I really want to see this work," Stephenson said. "But I see the education appropriations subcommittee unfunding this."