Committee hears multiple funding requests: scholarships, classroom software, arts and career‑tech proposals

The Public Education Subcommittee heard a series of requests for appropriation (RFAs) from lawmakers and program representatives. The committee did not vote on these requests during the hearing; presenters described program goals, amounts requested and intended uses.

Key requests presented:

- Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship — Senator Fillmore asked for $4,000,000 ongoing to address a waiting list created after Carson Smith funding was combined with the Special Needs Opportunity Scholarship. "This is a simple ask," Fillmore said, describing the program’s 20‑year history and the current waiting list.

- Scribble statewide license (writing and research platform) — Senator Fillmore and school librarians described a statewide Scribble license purchased with ESSER funds that has supported student research and allowed teachers to "see the work" behind writing assignments. Student Melissa Young described the platform as “absolutely vital” to her high‑school research success. The state board previously obtained a contract; the current request is to continue access as ESSER funds phase out. Presenters asked the committee to consider one‑time continuation funding if ongoing funding is not available.

- Beverly Taylor Sorensen (BTS) Arts Learning Program — Board members and program leaders requested $3,000,000 ongoing to place arts educators in elementary schools to teach state standards through visual and performing arts; presenters said the program helps kinesthetic and other learners and has broad board support.

- Utah Fits All Scholarship — Senator Colomore described the program’s first year serving about 10,000 students and said about 27,000 students applied. The request before the legislature would add additional slots; Colomore said an $80,000,000 request would fund roughly another 10,000 students and that full funding of the initial legislative intent would be about $120,000,000. He emphasized the program’s modest scale relative to total K–12 enrollment.

- Rural Utah Student Initiative (digital/engagement program) — proponents described strong adoption among targeted rural districts and service centers and asked for ongoing support to sustain teacher professional development and district implementation; presenters said adoption now exists in every county and that sustained funding would keep momentum.

- Catalyst Center / Career‑Tech grant program — Speaker Schultz asked the committee to consider a $65,000,000 request (proposed stabilization‑account capital grants) to accelerate construction and equipment for regional career and technical education centers modeled on the Catalyst Center in Davis School District. Schultz described industry partnership, student project work, and local philanthropy in launch sites and said grants would be competitive with district matching and program criteria.

Nut graf: The RFAs span scholarships, classroom software and materials, arts educators, rural engagement programs and a major CTE capital grant proposal; most presenters framed their requests as investments in student engagement, skill development or continuity of an existing state contract while acknowledging limited budget capacity.

Committee members asked about accountability, permissible uses of scholarship dollars, program audits and whether statewide purchasing of tools yields price savings. Representative Moss and others asked about outcome reporting and the relative oversight compared with public school reporting; committee members were told the scholarship program is subject to annual and spot audits and that a cleanup bill is planned to tighten allowable expenses and reporting.

Votes at a glance: The committee approved minutes for the February 2025 meeting by voice vote (Senator Hinkins moved the motion); no RFAs were approved or rejected during the hearing.