Utah State Board of Education Chairman Mark Huntsman and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Sydnee Dickson offered the following comments on Governor Spencer J. Cox’s proposed state budget, which includes recommendations for a $6,000 compensation increase for teachers, a 5 percent increase in weighted pupil-unit (WPU) funding for schools, $476.9 million for educator support, and an increase in funding to make optional full-day kindergarten available for all Utah families.
“I would like to express my gratitude to the governor for his support of Utah educators and public education,” Huntsman said. “Words and actions matter; and the governor’s budget shows Utah teachers we recognize and appreciate all the hard work they put in to help students. I believe teachers and advocates will support these pay increases as a betterment for public education in our state.”
“We were pleased that the governor supported the board’s priorities of early learning, effective teachers and leaders, and safe and healthy schools,” Dickson said. “Board members and our staff look forward to working with the governor and legislators as we build on our past success to make Utah schools a better place for teachers and students. We think this will lead to even better outcomes in the future.”
