2015 Utah House Voting on P-12 Education Legislation

During the 2015 legislative session, the Utah House considered numerous measures related to P-12 education. The Utah Education Association (UEA) publishes an annual list of voting by congressional members. This report considers the ten measures proposed in the House.

The following measures were supported by UEA:

• “Public Education Budget Amendments” passed in the House and Senate. It “supplements or reduces appropriations previously
  provided for school districts, charter schools and certain state education
  agencies ….” School districts receiving increases would be in a better
  position to improve literacy education.

• Two measures addressed HR issues: “Public Education
  Resource Management Act Revisions” “…clarifies dismissal procedures when an
  educator exhibits both performance and conduct issues.” The “Public Education
  Resource Management Act Revisions” “…clarifies dismissal procedures when an
  educator exhibits both performance and conduct issues.” Both passed the House
  and Senate.

• “Education Background Check Amendments” passed in the
  House and Senate unanimously. It “clarifies and amends background check
  provisions for licensed educators and employees or volunteers who work at
  local education agencies and certain private schools.”

• “Educator Tax Credit Study” passed in the House and
  Senate. It requires a study of how educators may receive tax credits for
  personal money spent for school supplies. Educators spending personal money on
  literacy learning materials will be able to receive at least partial
  reimbursement, a potential boost to literacy education.

• “Resolution Urging Development of Methods to Minimize Excessive Testing”
  supports “the development of methods to minimize excessive standardized
  testing and its negative effects on Utah’s public schoolchildren.” It passed
  in the House and Senate. Though it is not clear how the minimization will
  occur, reduced stress and pressure about testing could contribute to a more
  positive learning environment.

• “Professional Learning Grant Program” would require the State Board of Education to establish a professional learning grant program. It passed the House but was not heard in the Senate and was filed.

The one measure that UEA opposed that received House and Senate support was the “Charter School Finance Amendments,” requiring a school district to “allocate 25% of district per pupil revenues for each student of the school district who is enrolled in a charter school regardless of the charter school students’ average local revenues.”

UEA opposed “Tax Credit for Home-Schooling Parent” that failed in House Committee; the partisan “State School Board Membership and Election Amendments” that passed the Utah Senate was filed; and “Educator Licensing Amendments” that would have removed the necessity for administrators to have a teaching license or an education degree passed the House and Senate. The Governor vetoed it.

The House generally supported UEA’s positions. Individual voting records were bipartisan. Among those with a voting record of 100% support for UEA’s position are five Democrats and three Republicans. Among those whose votes seem to indicate support for UEA’s positions at a rate of 80% or better are five Republicans and one Democrat. Of the 37 Utah representatives, six are Democrats, whose voting records aligned with UEA’s stances.