Jordan district staff warns funding shifts in Utah Legislature could offset proposed WPU increase

District officials updated the Jordan Board of Education on Feb. 11 about bills in the Utah Legislature that could change how education funds are collected and distributed, and warned that headline increases in the Weighted Pupil Unit (WPU) may be offset by other shifts in line items.

Associate Superintendent Mike Anderson told the board that the Public Education Appropriations Committee recommended a 1% WPU increase (the district’s summary cited a recommended 5% total WPU increase in committee discussion; Anderson clarified later that committee text indicated the final recommended increase under negotiation settled at 1% above the standard allocation) and that there is little new ongoing money available. He said the district is actively tracking 87 education-related bills this session and highlighted a subset with direct financial or operational implications.

Key bills discussed - HB 344 (school fees): Passed the House and was fast-tracked; includes a new definition for extracurricular activities, and requires high schools to provide a fee-free pathway for graduation beginning fall 2026. Anderson said the change clarifies which fees may be charged (AP/IB/concurrent enrollment, driver education, specific course/program expenses) while prohibiting…