Utah Superintendent advocates for transformative changes in state math education standards

The Utah State Board of Education meeting on May 21, 2025, focused on the urgent need to reform math standards in the state’s education system. The discussions highlighted concerns about the declining performance in mathematics over the past decade, particularly following the implementation of Common Core standards.

State Superintendent expressed a strong desire for Utah to take a leadership role in educational innovation, especially in light of recent changes at the federal level under the Trump administration. He emphasized that this moment presents a unique opportunity for significant transformation in public education, aiming for Utah to compete globally with top-performing countries rather than settling for mediocrity within the United States.

The Superintendent pointed out several challenges to achieving this transformative change. He described the governance of public education in Utah as fragmented, likening it to a school bus with multiple steering wheels, which complicates efforts to improve student outcomes. Additionally, he noted that classroom teachers often have the autonomy to resist policies from the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) and the legislature, creating further obstacles to implementing new initiatives.

Institutional inertia was also identified as a barrier, with a large workforce at USBE and entrenched traditions that resist change. The Superintendent called for strategies to inspire educators to embrace new directions and overcome these challenges, as both the state and the legislature are signaling a demand for change in the education system.

In conclusion, the meeting underscored the critical need for a cohesive approach to reforming math education in Utah, with a focus on overcoming existing barriers to ensure that the state can lead in educational excellence on a global scale. The discussions set the stage for future initiatives aimed at revitalizing the state's approach to mathematics and public education overall.