Education

Utah Foundation’s December 2005 report entitled “What is a college degree worth?” found that many Utah college graduates are earning less than $30,000 in their first year after graduation. Some concern was expressed regarding the relatively low starting salaries of Utah graduates. However, it should be noted that the value of a four year college degree cannot be adequately assessed by examining only the starting salaries of graduates. This brief will more deeply explore what … Continued

This report compares the current employment and educational status of 2004 graduates from all major colleges and universities in Utah, along with information about salaries they are earning after one year in the workforce.

Charter schools are public schools, but they operate independent of school districts and serve as “magnet” schools, drawing students from a wide area. Utah Foundation’s report concludes that Utah charter schools face significant financial challenges, chiefly a gap in funding that leaves charter schools with about $800 less per pupil than other Utah public schools. This gap is the result of three factors:

In 2000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, 63.1% of Utahns over the age of 25 had at least some college experience or an associate’s degree. On the basis of those figures, Utah is certainly one of the most educated states, ranking 2nd in the U.S. But looking beyond some college experience or an associate’s degree, Utah’s rank in educational attainment drops significantly. Utah ranks 15th for the percentage of adults over 25 with a … Continued

A topic of debate among public education researchers and policy makers is the degree to which reducing class size impacts students’ ability to learn. Some argue that it is a leading factor, while others contend that it makes only slight difference and doesn’t justify the enormous expense. This brief, the second Utah Foundation brief covering Utah public education issues, highlights the strengths and weaknesses of efforts made to reduce class sizes throughout the country. Also, … Continued

Utah’s education financing has long been considered an anomaly. A November 1999 Utah Foundation research report, entitled “Utah’s Education Paradox,” included two statistics that were seemingly at odds with each other. It reported that:

The 2000 Census provided an opportunity to examine Utah’s college graduates as a portion of the population relative to other states. According to Census figures, Utah ranks 32nd in the nation for the percent of 25-34 year olds with a least a bachelor’s degree. Just over a quarter of Utah residents in this age group received a bachelor’s degree by 2000. This places Utah below the national average of 27.5 percent and third in the … Continued

Since Utah passed its charter school law in 1998, the concept of independent public schools empowered with the ability to develop innovative curricula and governance structures has gained increasing popularity. The number of charter schools has grown from eight in the fall of 1999 to 19 in the fall of 2003. However, determining the best way to fund charter schools has not been easy. Legislators have changed charter school finance laws twice in the five … Continued