By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Juab Education Association is joining with the state
in urging the legislature to use at least some of the
discretionary funds at the legislature's disposal for
education.
In the interest of providing great public schools for
every child, UEA launched the "No Excuses!" campaign. They
want notice in the state legislature where a $1 billion tax
surplus will be addressed.
January 17, Ann Peterson, representing the Juab
Education Association (JEA) presented a "No Excuses! Invest
in Public Schools" message during school board meeting.
"Contrary to what many people think, the state and
local tax burden Utahns bear (as a percentage of personal
income) has remained relatively constant since the 1970s,"
said Peterson.
"Utah is the worst state&emdash;50th out of
50&emdash;in per pupil spending on public education," said
Peterson. "Since 2001, per pupil spending in constant
dollars has declined by 2 percent."
Educators on the local level are also requesting that
patrons and friends of the Juab School District Contact
legislators to let them know that they support the need for
money for education.
The "No Excuses!" Calendar began on January 16 with
UEA members distributing "No Excuses!" door hangers in
neighborhoods throughout Utah.
It has ranged from a low of 9 percent to a high of
about 11 percent.
Here's how our state ranks on the major state and
local tax collections (2002):
Percentage of total taxes is 23.6 percent which makes
Utah 41st among the list of states; the state's General
Sales Tax as a percentage of total taxes is 32.7 percent for
a rank of 12th among states; Individual Income Tax for Utah
residents is 26.6 percent for14th among states; and
Corporate Income Tax is 1.8 percent of the total taxes for
36th among the 50 states.
Peterson said the statistics had been collected by the
National Education Association Research Division.
"GREAT things are happening in Utah's public schools,"
said Peterson.
Utah SAT scores in 2005 were the highest in 30
years.
Utah SAT Math scores were the highest in 36 years.
Utah SAT English scores were the highest in 28
years.
Utah SAT scores were at record levels for all ethnic
sub-groups.
"Utah ranks in the top six states for high school
graduation rates," she said.
•Last year, 14,937 Utah students took 24,528 AP
tests with a pass rate 5 percent higher than the national
average.
•Over 23,000 high school students earned 153,727
semester hours of college credit through concurrent
enrollment (2003-04).
•PTA members donated $95 million worth of
volunteer hours last year.
"Utah has 40 school districts," said Peterson.
Those who say the state is administration top-heavy
should realize that Montana has, in comparison, 441 school
districts.
"We get a pretty good bang for our buck," said Delanie
Hathaway, board vice president.
On January 27 at noon, the first UEA legislative
briefing at the Utah State Capitol (call 800-594-8996 for
information) will be held for this year.
"Our students are achieving," said Peterson. "Reading
scores are up for Utah Students," she said.
The proportion of Utah public school 4th graders who
scored at the highest two levels in reading in the National
Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) increased by 25
percent between 1998 and 2005.
Math scores are up.
"The proportion of Utah public school 4th graders who
scored at the highest two levels in mathematics in the
National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) has
nearly doubled between 1992 and 2005," Peterson said. In
addition, the proportion of Utah public school 8th graders
who scored at the highest two levels in mathematics in the
National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) increased
by 36 percent between 1992 and 2005.
"ACT scores are rising," Peterson said.
Since 1994, ACT college entrance examination scores in
Utah have risen twice as fast as the national average.
"AP scores are among the nation's best," she said.
"Utah public school students have the 10th highest average
Advanced Placement (AP) exam scores in the nation."
In Utah, 68 percent of public high school students
taking AP exams earn a score high enough to qualify for
college credit. Utah is one of the top 10 states in the
proportion of public high school AP exam takers earning such
high scores.
Peterson said that public school students out perform
private school students on AP exams. An other evidence is
that, in Utah, public school students score higher than
private school students on their AP exams in calculus.
"Utah public high school students are more likely than
private and religious school students to receive grades on
Advanced Placement (AP) exams that qualify for college
credit," she said.
Utah students are among the best in the nation in
students receiving a high score on AP Calculus Exams. In
fact, Utah is one of the top 5 states in the nation in the
proportion of students (78 percent) who have received a
score high enough to earn college credit on the Advanced
Placement (AP) Calculus exam.
"The state has high quality teachers," Peterson
said.
Math teacher qualification in middle and high schools
are on the rise. The proportion of 7th through 12th grade
public school math teachers with majors in their field has
increased by 15 percent, making Utah one of the top 3 most
improved states in the nation.
Utah is also one of the top 10 states in the nation in
proportion of 7th through 12th grade public school science
teachers with majors in their field. The proportion of 7th
through 12th grade public school science teachers with
majors in their field has increased by 26 percent, making
Utah one of the top 2 most improved states in the
nation.
Peterson said there was even more good news.
Utah is among the best in nation in preparing students
for college: The National Center for Public Policy and
Higher Education gives Utah a grade of "A" for how well its
schools prepare students for college.
The National Center for Public Policy and Higher
Education ranks Utah as one of the top 15 states in the
gains made over the last decade in preparing its students
for college. HE
"Utah's public high school graduation rate is among
the top 6 in the country," said Peterson.
Computers are highly available in schools There is one
computer available for instruction for every 5.1 public
school students in Utah. There is also widespread Internet
access. Almost all of the public schools in Utah (99
percent) have Internet access.
Schools are safe. No schools in Utah were identified
as "persistently dangerous" under the new "No Child Left
Behind" law.
Yet challenges do remain and one of those is that
public school revenue Is the worst in the nation.
"Utah ranks near the bottom of all states--50th out of
50--in the per pupil revenue raised for public education,"
said Peterson.
Utah ranks at the bottom (50 of 50) in the number of
students for each teacher so that the student/teacher ratio
is the worst in the United States.
The average size of a Utah elementary school is 17
percent higher than the national average. With an average of
512 students per school, Utah ranks 9th in the nation in
having large elementary schools.
With an average of 24 students per class, Utah has the
4th largest average elementary school class size in the
nation.
Sixty-two percent of Utah's schools have at least one
inadequate building feature (e.g., roofs, plumbing, electric
wiring), and 72 percent have at least one unsatisfactory
environmental condition (e.g., poor air quality, poor
heating, too much noise).
Those interested may become a part of G.R.E.A.T.
(Grass Roots Education Action Team).
Peterson has some fill-out cards to become a Grass
Roots Education Action Team (G.R.E.A.T.) Member.
Peterson said that, in a recent survey, 61 percent of
respondents said they would like to see the surplus dollars
in the state go to education this year.
Given the size of the healthy surplus, education could
benefit.
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