The Utah State Board of Education voted unanimously to direct staff to work with legislators on potential Utah code amendments to include a State Board of Education member as a voting member of the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) board.

Member Carrie moved the measure, saying teacher-educator programs administered by USHE increasingly intersect with K–12 responsibilities and that a voting seat would give the State Board a formal voice when higher-education policy affects credentialing and educator preparation. "There is a big difference between having a seat and being a voting member of a body," Carrie said, describing past experience as a nonvoting member on a charter school board.

Board members noted prior arrangements in which nonvoting USHE representatives sat on this board; Member Davis said representatives from USHE used to serve as nonvoting members on the State Board and that a voting seat could streamline communication on issues such as regent scholarships and program approvals.

Staff were directed to work with legislative partners to draft potential statutory language; the board did not approve final code text at the meeting.

The motion passed unanimously. The board’s action is a directive to staff to develop proposed code language for later board review and possible legislative introduction.