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Gary Herbert on Education
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Increase funding for applied technology colleges
Last year, we united behind a commitment to education. We provided for 12,500 new students, we increased per pupil spending, we covered the increased cost of healthcare for our teachers, we invested millions in enhanced individualized instruction
and help for at-risk children, and we put millions more in higher education, including our applied technology colleges.Education is the largest and most important investment Utah makes. While we recognize that money isn't everything, we should still
take note--that while so many states face shrinking budgets and bleak forecasts, Utah has the means, the vision, and the commitment to rank education as its top priority. The proof of that investment is unmistakable. The national average
Advanced Placement test score is 2.84. Utah's is 3.1. More than 27,000 students prepare for college through concurrent enrollment, and compared to other states with a high percentage of students taking the ACT, Utah ranks second in our test scores.
Source: 2013 State of the State Address to Utah Legislature
, Jan 30, 2013
Fervently committed $40M to STEM education
We must remain fervently committed to STEM--science, technology, engineering and math education. As we discuss the future of STEM, the watchword is alignment--workforce alignment.
Nothing matters more than preparing our children to face the new, interdependent global economy. So this year I propose we invest $20 million for STEM education.
Eight state institutions of higher learning are reprioritizing their budgets to match that funding dollar for dollar.
That's a full $40 million for STEM programs to make Utah's future workforce the smartest, most skilled, and most innovative workforce this nation has ever seen.
Source: 2013 State of the State Address to Utah Legislature
, Jan 30, 2013
Continue to increase funding for public schools
Utah has long been committed to funding our public schools, our colleges and universities, and our technical institutions. In fact, few states in the country spend as much of their overall budgets on education as we do. Our unique demographics--which is
a way of saying we have larger families--mean we must continue to increase funding to maintain and enhance the solid education and training our students receive. I cannot say enough about the importance of supporting public education.
Source: Utah 2010 State of the State Address
, Jan 26, 2010
Page last updated: Apr 25, 2013
