Why Utah Has Trouble Funding K-12 Education (Hint: It’s Not Public Lands)

October 06, 2014 (Center for Western Priorities)

Several reports have highlighted Utah’s unique demographic makeup. For example, the Utah Foundation noted that “…with very high birth rates and a very young population, there [are] many school aged children.” And according to the U.S. Census, nearly 31 percent of the state’s population is under the age of 18; Texas is the next closest with 26.6 percent of the population under 18 (the national average is 23.3 percent).

Thus, because of Utah’s demography, funding education presents a unique challenge. Utah has more children to educate and fewer working adults paying into the public education system.

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Referenced Reports