The Utah Legislature is currently struggling to find a way to reform the process for selecting candidates for Utah’s State School Board.
A federal court decision in 2014 (England v. Hatch) found that the system in use since the 1990s is unconstitutional. The system allowed a selection board appointed by the governor to vet potential candidates and recommend them to the governor for inclusion on the ballot. Opponents argued this allowed the board to choose candidates based on their political views rather than their other qualifications – and the court agreed.
A new report from Utah Foundation, Who Is In Charge of Utah’s Schools: A Look at Education Governance in Utah, says the decision, which requires the state to look at the selection of candidates, now gives the state a broad opportunity to examine at the entire process of school governance. The report included a survey of education leaders across Utah, both at the state level and in local districts.
View Article