Utah Voucher Program
The Utah Legislature recently enacted two voucher programs; the first, enacted in 2005 is targeted to children with disabilities and currently enrolls less than 200 students; the second, enacted in 2007, would have become the nation's first "universal" private school voucher program, meaning that all private school students in the state would be eligible for vouchers when the program was fully implemented. Public school advocates, including the Utah School Boards Association, formed a coalition (
Utahns for Public Schools) to challenge the program and successfully secured enough signatures to place the isue on a public ballot for a vote. In November 2007, the voters spoke, resoundingly repealing the voucher program by a vote of 62% to 38%. Every single Utah county rejected the voucher program. The defeat marked the 11th time in 11 referenda that a state's voters have rejected a specific voucher or tuition tax credit program or proposal.
Resources
- Vouchers killed (Deseret Morning News, 11-7-07)
Utah voters repeal universal voucher program by a 62% to 38% vote.
- Utahns for Public Schools coalition website
A broad coalition of education and civil rights groups have joined in an attempt to secure enough signatures to place the newly-passed voucher law on a public ballot initiative. The Utah School Boards Association is a member of the coalition.
- 6% of voucher backers say helping poor is main reason (Salt Lake Tribune, 11-4-07)
Usual rhetorical rationale from voucher movement doesn't even resonate with supporters, according to poll.
- No to Referendum 1: Vouchers would not improve Utah education (Salt Lake Tribune editorial, 11-3-07)
- Vouchers appear doomed (Deseret Morning News, 11-3-07)
Another poll predicts defeat for vouchers in Utah referendum
- Tribune poll: For school voucher camp, those cookies may be crumbling (Salt Lake Tribune, 11-2-07)
Latest Utah poll finds 56% oppose vouchers, 136% support ahead of referendum
- At $8.4 million, school voucher fight costlier than last governor's race (Salt Lake Tribune, 10-31-07)
- Voucher issue unifies Demos, divides GOP (Deseret Morning News, 9-27-07)
A look at how the political parties in Utah are approaching the upcoming voucher referendum
- Doubt has clout to kill vouchers (Salt Lake Tribune, 9-23-07)
- Pro-voucher group may be breaking law (Deseret Morning News, 9-20-07)
- School vouchers bill is battleground for out-of-state donors (Salt Lake Tribune, 9-18-07)
- Essay implies Mormons should back vouchers (Salt Lake Tribune, 9-16-07)
- Voucher war brings in big guns (Salt Lake Tribune, 9-14-07)
Columnist Paul Rolly on the tactics of Utah's pro-voucher campaign.
- Voucher season starts with clash (Salt Lake Tribune, 9-7-07)
- Parents kick off campaign in favor of school vouchers (Deseret Morning News, 7-28-07)
- Special-needs voucher programs: Disability advocates say evidence scant that they really help (Salt Lake Tribune, 7-16-07)
- Special needs: We need accountability for recipients (Salt Lake Tribune, 7-23-07)
- Wording set for voter packets on school vouchers (Salt Lake Tribune, 7-14-07)
- Utahns in poll say no to vouchers (Deseret Morning News, 7-9-07)
Ahead of November referendum, 57% of Utah voters say they will oppose vouchers.
- Court did Utahns favor on vouchers (Deseret Morning News, 6-15-07)
- High court rules up or down vote on vouchers in November (Deseret Morning News, 6-8-07)
Utah Supreme Court clarifies confusion, says voters will make final call on voucher law.
- Counting of voucher petitions begins (Salt Lake Tribune, 4-25-07)
- Voucher foes: We did it (Salt Lake Tribune, 4-9-07)
Report indicates public school advocates in Utah secured enough signatures to put the state's new voucher law on a public ballot for a vote.
- Future of vouchers may go before voters (Salt Lake Tribune, 3-2-07)
Public school advocates seek to repeal new voucher law via the referendum process.
- Future of vouchers: Legislature in uncharted water with universal plan (Salt Lake Tribune, 3-1-07)
Strongly worded editorial questions the wisdom of Utah's new universal school voucher law.
- Legislators OK state school voucher bill (Deseret Morning News, 3-1-07)
- Legislature already amending school voucher law passed earlier this month (Daily Herald - UT, 2-28-07)
Utah Legislature makes changes to universal school voucher program it previously passed.
- Tuition still unaffordable for poorest (Salt Lake Tribune, 2-26-07)
Article highlights likely practical flaws in Utah's broad new voucher program.