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Governor Leavitt proposes statewide "digital state" and aggressive education overhaul
Summary
In his 1999 State of the State, Gov. Michael O. Leavitt called for a "digital state" of high‑speed Internet access to schools, homes and businesses and proposed a sweeping education package: early reading tests and summer remediation, competency exams tied to diplomas, middle‑school reforms and a new scholarship program.
SALT LAKE CITY — Governor Michael O. Leavitt used his 1999 State of the State address to propose a statewide "digital state" and to lay out an ambitious education agenda aimed at improving reading and basic-skills competency.
Leavitt told the joint convention of the Utah Legislature that the state should build "the foundation of a truly digital state," providing high-speed, high-capacity Internet access — which he called "WebTone" — to every school, business and home. He said the infrastructure would support distance education, online government services, telemedicine and broader markets for Utah businesses and urged the state to "remove unnecessary barriers to innovation" while protecting ratepayers and encouraging competition among providers.
"WebTon…
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