Reader comments
State right to ignore fed mandates on schools

Individual states do not have the right to ignore the wishes of the federal government. Lincoln and the outcome of the Civil War decided this many years ago. Sadly, federal law always trumps state law.

Do we really want a nuclear energy proponent, a SUWA hater, a gaggle of right wing extremists, and developers setting school policy? it's not okay to be micro-managed but okay to micro-manage?

South: You are correct that states cannot violate civil rights laws (constitutional laws), but Utah can certainly refuse to accept federal funds and the federal programs that accompany them. This remains America and federalism, though under tremendous stress, still applies. The problem is that many state lawmakers and every public school person known in Utah are addicted to federal funds and status quo control over a system that, each year, fails to meet the complete needs of all students.

I personally would love to see the Feds out of Utah education. According to the state superintendent only 7% of Utah's education budget is federal money.