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In The News
August 26, 2010
Will Corroon’s Education Plan Cut Seminary?
August 25, 2010
Utah not only state looking at grading schools
August 24, 2010
Jeb Bush: Class size limits unnecessary in education reform
Jeb Bush tells Utah educators how to improve schools
Some Utah leaders want to copy Florida by grading schools
In Utah, Former Fla. Gov Slams Class Size Limits
Jeb Bush Comments On Utah Class Sizes During Visit
Former Florida Guv Tells Utah How to Improve Schools
Former Fla. Gov. Bush slams class size limits while visiting state with largest classes
In Utah, former Florida gov dings class size limits
Jeb Bush Shares Roadmap for Transformational Education Reform in Utah
March 22, 2010
Debate over teachers, unions, and taxpayer dollars
Utah Legislature: District to help fund charter schools?
March 9, 2010
Utah Legislature: Bill regulating teacher union rep funding fails in House
March 7, 2010
Utah charter schools: After 10 years, proponents say they're a success, but not everyone agrees
March 2, 2010
Bill to prohibit paid teachers union leave advances
February 27, 2010
Some food for thought: Vouchers save money
February 26, 2010
Utah Legislature: Parents hope special needs stipend survives
Policy & Innovations Innovations Across the U.S.
Innovations Across the U.S.
Virtual/Online Schools
Virtual/online options are beginning to sweep the nation, revolutionizing how students are educated and prepared to compete in a 21st century global economy. Virtual schools allow students to master concepts at their own pace and are uniquely able to address the needs of both urban and rural communities equally while catering to the individual needs of each student.
Quick Facts1
- 17 states, including Utah, have public virtual schools that provide both full-time and supplemental programs.
- 4 states only have public virtual schools with full-time programs.
- 23 states only have public virtual schools with supplemental programs.
- 6 states have no public virtual schools.
Public Virtual Schools across the U.S.1
Backpack/Weighted-Student Funding
Much of our education funding is wasted on bureaucracy. The money never actually makes it into the classroom in the form of books, computers, supplies, or even salaries for better teachers. Backpack/weighted-student funding changes that. Using backpack funding’s decentralized system, education funds are attached to each student and the students can take that money directly to the public school of their choice.
At least 15 major school districts have moved to this system of backpack funding. Reason Foundation’s new Weighted Student Formula Yearbook examines how the budgeting system is being implemented in each of these places and, based on the real-world data, creates a series of “best practices” that other districts and states can follow to improve the quality of their schools.
Performance/Merit Pay
States and school districts across the US have begun to realize that the best teachers deserve the best pay. Currently, 32 states (including Washington, DC) have a performance pay program or other teacher compensation reform.
Performance Pay across the U.S.
