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State Charter School Board presents growth data, asks to preserve one-time carryforward funds
Summary
Utah State Charter School Board leaders briefed the Education Committee on the board's authorizing role, recent growth in charter schools and a request not to rescind $307,000 in one-time carryforward funds; they signaled an intention to request increased ongoing funding next year to match growth.
The Utah State Charter School Board told the Legislature's Education Committee that charter enrollment and authorizing activity are rising and asked lawmakers not to rescind a one-time carryforward of $307,000.
The overview, delivered by Keegan (Kiki) Hudson of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst's office and by State Charter School Board Executive Director Dr. Paul Kramer, said the board currently authorizes 132 public charter schools serving about 80,000 students and that it has a staff of 10 and seven governor-appointed board members. "We are an aspect of public education that's on a growth trajectory," Kramer said.
Nut graf: The board described three recent developments to support charter schools: (1) a 2023 startup funding program that designates funds for opening new charters, (2) a 2023 statewide charter training program consolidating prior training dollars, and (3) continued use of a roughly $2.0 million ongoing staff budget supplemented by carryforward balances accumulated during a slower “dormant” period during the COVID years.
Board leaders said the state charter portfolio paused new approvals in 2020—22, then resumed growth: the board reported approving multiple new schools, satellite campuses and expansions in recent years and projected that activity could roughly double during an anticipated "demand" phase tied to population and business growth on the Wasatch Front. Kramer and Marie Stephenson, associate executive director, described a board plan that would use carryforward dollars to fund near-term capacity rather than having the Legislature reclaim those funds this session. "It's our goal of the presentation ... that you don't take back the $307,000 in one time," Kramer said.
Committee members asked how the board projects growth. Kramer and Hudson said projections reflect active applications and conversations with operators, local housing and business development trends, and historical authorizing queues; they did not offer a formal numeric forecast. Representative Miller asked whether charters will close in declining communities; Kramer said smaller charter schools (250—600 students) often remain viable because many function as commuter schools and serve a wider area.
Kramer and board member Clint Biesinger also described administrative operations and the board's plan for a "carryforward spend plan" developed by the finance committee. Kramer said the board may request an increase in ongoing funding in a future session to account for anticipated growth but was not asking for new ongoing money this year.
Ending: Committee chairpersons thanked the panel and moved to follow-on items on charter funding, including the charter school local replacement formula and related appropriations.
