Our kids are falling behind, and Utah can’t afford to ignore it.
Nearly half of Utah’s young children aren’t reading at grade level. That’s not a reflection of parents or educators falling short; it’s a reflection of the gaps in government support to schools and families.
Everyone agrees we should improve reading rates. The question is: How? The conversation often stops when someone raises concerns about costs to taxpayers, but improving outcomes for kids doesn’t have to mean raising taxes.
That’s where our proposal comes in: investing in children the smart way, at no added cost to the taxpayer.
At the end of each fiscal year, some state agencies may have a small amount of unspent funds. Portions of that money return to the state’s general fund. But what if we maximized those realized government efficiencies by reinvesting in our children? Our proposal sets aside about half of unspent funds and places them into a restricted account that supports kids, families and mental health care access for Utahns.
Our plan directs that funding into three buckets:
- Child care subsidies to support working families
- The Utah Behavioral Health Commission to assist community members suffering from mental health crises
- Para-educators in kindergarten through third grade to help students build strong reading skills early
It does all of this without placing a new burden on taxpayers. This isn’t about creating a new tax or growing government just for the sake of it. It’s about using existing resources wisely, working with state agencies to make the most of taxpayer dollars and investing them where they will have the greatest impact.
Parents play a critical role in their children’s education. Families are their kids’ first teachers. But not every child has the same circumstances. Not every family has the luxury of two parents at home, flexible work schedules or access to professional support.
Parents care deeply, but they aren’t trained educators. That’s why supporting kids has to be a team effort, with parents, educators and the state working together to make sure no child slips through the cracks.
Waiting until kids fall too far behind is not a solution. We can’t hold students back if they aren’t reading at grade level. Ten- or 11-year-olds repeating third grade means the gap is much harder and far more expensive to close. Early intervention gives kids the support they need to catch up before they reach that point.
The funding is there, and this approach is practical and responsible. It strengthens families, supports educators and gives children the attention they need during the most critical years of development. It’s preventive, not a crisis response.
Utah’s kids deserve better than falling behind. We have the opportunity to act now and invest in their future.