PETITION CLOSED

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Speak for Tomorrow Today - Make Utah Public Education a #1 Priority
  1. Signatures
    177 out of 1,500
    Petitioning
    1. The Governor of UT (+ 2 others)
      Petitioning
      close
      • The Governor of UT
      • The UT State Senate
      • The UT State House
  2. Created By
    Megan Hoskins
    Salt Lake City, UT
About this Petition Petition Letter

Utah lawmakers have returned to Capitol Hill for their annual 45-day session.

This year, with the economic recession, lawmakers will need to trim around $700 million from the state's budget. Some legislators are pointing to education as a way to cut back.

The base budget proposed by the Utah Legislature on Jan. 27 cuts 2 percent, or about $350 million from public schools. This trims nearly $100 per student from a state that already has the lowest per-student school funding in the country. It also fails to provide funding for approximately 11,000 new students expected to enroll next school year. If we don't fight for a change, the result will be a decrease in overall education funding and an increase in the state's class sizes, already the largest in the nation.

According to a Dan Jones & Associates survey commissioned by UEA, conducted in August 2009, Utahns were asked which is more important: increasing the investment in public schools or cutting school budgets to live with lower revenue. Of those surveyed, 73 percent said increasing public school investment is more important.

Utah schoolteachers are dedicated to helping students succeed. But despite their best efforts in the classroom, much of what they want to accomplish is out of their control. Decisions about everything from curriculum and class size, to budgets for classroom supplies, to salaries and benefits are made in large part by elected officials and appointed policy makers.

To make an investment in public schools, tell your representative that you care about public education (your children, your grandchildren and our future leaders) and prevent budget cuts by sending a letter to your legislator. Please join us in taking a stand for Utah's future leaders, and make quality public schools a priority - Now!

*PLEASE FEEL FREE TO EDIT THE TEXT TO EXPLAIN YOUR SPECIFIC SITUATION AND PERSONALIZE YOUR LETTER.

Recent Signatures

Make Utah Public Education a Number One Priority

Greetings,

As your constituent, I have serious concerns regarding public education budget cuts for the 2011 fiscal year.

Utah’s future depends on preparing students with the skills and knowledge they need to survive in the 21st century and obtain a quality education to succeed in college and a competitive career field. Utah’s education system is already compromised by lack of adequate funding and resources.

Utah’s per-pupil public education funding has plummeted to the nations lowest, spending nearly $1,000 per student below the next closest state, and operating with the largest class sizes in the nation.

Studies show an investment in public education grows the economy more than corporate tax cuts and subsidies.
Unlike corporate tax incentives, public school investments go back into the local economy, not to corporate offices in another state. The top reasons businesses give for choosing one city over another is education. Class size and per pupil spending are the two most important factors businesses use in rating a public school system.

We need a long-term plan to ensure a quality public school for every child. I urge you to avert reductions to Utah’s public school budgets and help us move forward from our current position as the last state in the nation in per-student investment. Our children deserve more.

Thank You,

[Your name]

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