My mornings buzz with activity, but it isn’t the rush of getting children out the door to school, because my children’s education takes place at home. I have chosen to be the primary educator of my children, who range from kindergarten to seventh grade, and my liberal arts bachelor’s degree prepared me well. Giving my children individualized attention fills the morning, as I bounce between explaining math concepts to one child and providing feedback on a writing assignment with another. Other days start with scientific experiments, forest school group, world history, language study, music and art, while afternoons are spent reading and pursuing extracurricular activities. Every day I join Utah teachers in the important quest of educating children, and I do so without monetary compensation.
Last year, Utah implemented an education voucher program called the Utah Fits All scholarship (UFA). The UFA scholarship allows eligible students to receive state funding to further their education. These funds may go towards private school tuition, hybrid programs or home-schooling. Students are reimbursed for approved educational expenses and a state selected program administrator, who is charged with implementing the program, closely reviews all expenditures. To remain eligible for funding, students are required to either complete standardized testing or submit a portfolio outlining how scholarship funds have furthered their education.
Though Utahns may disagree about the details of educational methods and policies, I believe we are united in wanting educated citizens who are intellectually engaged, emotionally and socially mature and prepared to contribute to society in positive ways. With the broad range of learning styles, family resources and health limitations or disabilities, it follows that there is not an effective, one-size fits all model of educating children. In order for every student to thrive, they need an educational method that fits and the funding flexible enough to foster it.
Quality education requires time and resources. In some cases, we provide these for our children through actual expenditures, while in others, we offer them by forgoing opportunities, resulting in “opportunity costs.” I forgo the equivalent of a teacher’s salary in order to teach my children at home. This cost is worthwhile to me, as it provides my students an educational environment they thrive in, but it is still a cost to my family.
While we tend to view education as what happens in a school building during the day, other experiences and activities significantly contribute to children’s intellectual, social and physical education. UFA scholarship funds make it so that we don’t also need to spend our single household income on education materials and experiences.
A public school uses government funds to pay for the facility, teachers, administrators, bus systems, janitor services, sports fields and property insurance. Those public school families can then use their own money to cover other aspects of their student’s educational costs including uniforms, extracurricular activities and school supplies. A homeschool family uses their own resources to cover facility costs, teacher salary, transportation and janitor services, while scholarship funds help to cover other educational expenses, including books, computers, curriculum and additional expenses that go directly to enhancing student education. My students do not benefit from the teachers, counselors, buses, educational programs and the new football field at the local high school. Likewise, a public school student won’t have access to my student’s bike or violin. This isn’t unfair or disproportionate, as some have complained. In each instance, public money is being tailored to the student’s needs and priorities.
Finally, even if someone opposes the existence of the UFA scholarship, they need to recognize that it saves taxpayer money. According to the Office of State Auditor, Utah public school students receive an average of $11,500 per student. For home educated students, a portion of these funds have been available via charter schools for years. If a full-time homeschool student participates in a charter school to access government funding, they only receive $1,800 of the public funding allotted to their student, according to Harmony Educational Services.
On average, students who utilize the UFA scholarship rather than the public or charter systems are using 30% less of the government’s money — $8,000 rather than the $11,500 average statewide spending per student. Thus, not only do UFA funds allow tailored education for each student’s needs, it also is cheaper for taxpayers than either public charter or traditional public schools.
Public school teachers and administrators should not oppose the UFA scholarship because public schools also benefit. The scholarship will improve classrooms by allowing advanced and struggling students to find a better educational fit. This will benefit public school teachers in some of the challenges they face, including in their classroom management with insufficient time and resources, as all students find their best learning environment. The education of our children is a collective endeavor, and we all win when our money is making the biggest impact by meeting every student’s educational needs.
As this next legislative session kicks off, thank your legislators for doing a great job of prioritizing all Utah children, saving tax dollars and putting your hard-earned dollars to work in educating the next generation.
(Naomi Burton) Naomi Burton is a home educator and mother of seven children.
Naomi Burton is a home educator, mother of seven amazing children and a passionate advocate of those who don’t always speak up for themselves. She is a perpetual learner whose current interests include restoring her historic home, reading “Don Quixote” and learning Chopin’s “Fantaisie-Impromptu.”
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