Survey Responses Part 4
COALITION UTAH asked State Board 7 candidates about EDUCATION FUNDING. Here's what they had to say...
Education Funding - 8
A) Do you support government-funded, government-regulated school choice? Why or why not?
A) I do not support government funded or government regulated school choice. I do support government giving tax credits to parents to use for education choice. There are strings attached when money comes from government and we don’t want any future government overreach in our home school or private school communities.
A) NO! The more money we accept from the government, the more control they have to control education.
A) I need to study this issue further.
I don’t like the idea of the federal government taxing people, taking their money and then giving it back to them with strings attached as to where their kids can go to school. At the same time we don’t want parents using their homeschool money to fund family vacations while their children suffer with a lack of General education.
A) Parents have the right to choose whatever style of education fits their child, including private school, charter school, home school or public school. The rolling out of the Utah fits all scholarship program demonstrates the challenges associated with government funded school choice. I recognize and support the changes the legislature made to make these funds available to a broader base.
A) I am all for school choice. I taught at Cottonwood High. I taught a combined Physics – Math class called “The Block.” Nearly 1/6th of those who took the AP Physics B Exam in Utah were my students. I averaged about 50 students in my AP class each year, every student took the exam and 80%+ passed the exam. My smallest class was about 45 students in my 4 Honors Physics classes. 40% of my students were from outside of Cottonwood’s boundaries. Be the best, attract the best.
Now vouchers, not a fan. From an AI query, the state pays $4,494 for each student in public ed, but $8000 for Utah Fits All; not equivalent. I am consistent. Why should some students get more money than others from the state? Each student is important. Is unequal support good?
A) I do not support government-funded, government-regulated school choice for the simple reason that, if the government funds and regulates it, there are always strings attached. As a home-school parent my child’s education is up to me. I determine what is taught, and what is not taught. If I accept money from the government to teach my child I open the door to government testing to prove that I am teaching my child to the expectations of the public school system.
Education Funding - 9
A) Do you support reducing dependency on Federal funding for public education? Why or why not?
B) Will you commit to votes & policy positions that are consistent with your answer?
A) I’m absolutely opposed to Federal Funding in our State Public Ed System. We receive maybe 10% of our education dollars and lose complete sovereignty of our education decisions.
B) I will vote for policies and measures that make Utah a sovereign education system.
A) Yes. Going back to my previous comment. We need to reduce dependency on federal funding so the government doesn’t have so much control. We are fortunate to live in Utah where several state leaders have stated that “Utah is ready and able to support local students of all backgrounds, while minimizing Washington. D.C., bureaucracy.” (Deseret News, May 22, 2025) If this is in fact the case, then we need to start weaning ourselves off the federal government and manage more on a state level.
B) Yes I will. What a glorious day it will be to manage Utah education without federal money.
A) I would love to reduce dependency on federal money for the reason stated above I think it’s ridiculous to give your money to any organization including the government organization for them just to give it back to you with crippling restrictions on where you can spend it.
B) [Not provided]
A) There are Title I Schools, special education programs, and other crucial programs that rely on federal funding. If the monies are returned to the state, and the state maintains these crucial programs, then I support more local control.
B) [Not provided]
A) Utah currently receives about 8% of its funding from Federal coffers. Federal funds usually have strings attached that may not fit the Utah way of doing things.
Sometimes you need to look at how much money is spent to take the money when all is said and done.
As a principal I received an opportunity of a State grant of $500. When reading the fine print I would have had to spend an additional $600 to $800 to meet the guidleines of the grant. I passed. I was then moved to another school where the principal had agreed to the grant. I quickly called to stop the grant which I was allowed to do. I still met the spirit of the grant with less cost and in our way.
No money is free. There is always strings attached. If the strings are part of your direction anyway, then look and see the benfits v. the cost.
B) [Not provided]
A) When we as a state accept Federal funding, we accept the conditions that those funds are issued under. That takes the control of our state’s education system from the state and places it with the Federal Government. So, yes, I support reducing, or eliminating any dependency on Federal funding.
B) I commit to vote to strengthen State Sovereignty and to reign in our dependency on Federal funding.
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