Education

Education after high school is complex, expensive, important, and sometimes controversial. It also has numerous goals that are naturally in conflict. Four of the most important are completion, quality, affordability, and access. The Utah Board of Higher Education is tasked with addressing these goals with the help of various tools highlighted in this report. These include performance funding, program reviews, budget alignment, and student support services. The right balance among quality, affordability, access, and completion … Continued

Each state has a unique college governing structure. Utah’s is perhaps one of the most unique. In 2023, the Utah Legislature introduced a new board structure to govern public post-secondary education. However, the subsequent replacement of the existing board and the Commissioner’s resignation led to a swift change – and perhaps an opportunity. In addition, post-secondary education may be at a crossroads. Enrollment is expected to stagnate and even decrease in the coming years while … Continued

  Introduction The coronavirus pandemic of 2020 brought the biggest disruption to K-12 public schools in this century. It thrust teachers, parents, and administrators into a chaotic process of finding ways to ensure that children received a quality education while simultaneously protecting the health of everyone involved. In many cases, the advances of digital learning in education over the preceding decade doubled in the months or even weeks following the beginning of the pandemic. However, … Continued

Introduction People seek out education beyond high school for many reasons. These include but are not limited to pursuing a specific career pathway, developing skills relevant to a changing job market, seeking personal exploration or development, and increasing their income potential. Due in part to the variations in purpose for expanding education, students may have a difficult time evaluating their options. This report aids in this evaluation by exploring the financial return on investment for … Continued

When looking beyond high school, some Utah students face low expectations, a shortfall in post-secondary readiness, a lack of knowledge around post-secondary options and financial challenges. This report, Broadening Horizons: Clearing an Early Path to Post-Secondary Success, not only explores these challenges, but also seeks to reveal the network of supports that can help smooth the transition out of high school, broadening the educational horizons of Utah youth. Broadening Horizons is the second report in … Continued