Introduction The coronavirus pandemic of 2020 brought the biggest disruption to K-12 public schools in this century. It thrust teachers, parents, and administrators into a chaotic process of finding ways to ensure that children received a quality education while simultaneously protecting the health of everyone involved. In many cases, the advances of digital learning in education over the preceding decade doubled in the months or even weeks following the beginning of the pandemic. However, … Continued

Utah is one of the driest states in the nation. Making sure the state manages water well is essential to its rapid population growth and economic expansion. This report, Flowing in the Desert: A Primer on Utah Water Law, focuses on providing a background of Utah’s water law. A basic understanding of water law is essential for any policy discussion about water. Water law provides the foundation upon which the rest of Utah’s water policy … Continued

The construction and construction materials supply industries both play a substantial role in Utah’s economy with the latter specifically constituting roughly 1% of Utah’s GDP while being composed of 345 firms and employing roughly 4,569 people in the state. This group of firms supports the overall construction industry which makes up 7% of the state’s economy. In light of the importance of the construction materials supply industry and its impact upon construction and the overall … Continued

Introduction People seek out education beyond high school for many reasons. These include but are not limited to pursuing a specific career pathway, developing skills relevant to a changing job market, seeking personal exploration or development, and increasing their income potential. Due in part to the variations in purpose for expanding education, students may have a difficult time evaluating their options. This report aids in this evaluation by exploring the financial return on investment for … Continued

The wet winter of 2022-2023 provided a reprieve to Utah’s water crisis that has been building in recent years, as characterized by falling levels of the Great Salt Lake and Lake Powell. That does not mean that Utah’s water problems have come to an end. Utah ranks among both the nation’s driest and fastest growing states. This means that approaches to water governance ensuring the sufficiency of affordable and high-quality water are a major concern. … Continued