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House approves largest education package in years, boosts reading funds and weighted pupil unit
Summary
The House passed Senate Bill 3 (Minimum School Program Act) with significant increases to the weighted pupil unit and a $5 million reading initiative; several floor amendments (including a proposal to fund a university reading center) were debated and defeated.
The Utah House approved the Minimum School Program Act (Senate Bill 3) on Feb. 29, 2000, approving increases to the weighted pupil unit and placing $5,000,000 in a reading initiative while adding onetime funds for textbooks and supplies. The bill passed the House 69–2.
Representative Howard A. Stevenson summarized SB3 and the Senate amendments, noting a $105 increase in the weighted pupil unit in the bill text and a substantial package of funding changes across K–12 programs. The bill includes a $3.1 million increase targeted at class-size reduction and $10.4 million in one-time money for textbooks and teacher supplies. A reading initiative line of $5 million was discussed on the floor.
Floor amendments attracted sustained debate. Representative Morgan proposed an amendment to move $250,000 of the reading initiative funds into a named reading skills center at the University of Utah; Morgan argued the center has produced measurable gains and trained reading specialists who deliver one-on-one interventions. Opponents, including Representative Stevens and others, said the reading initiative dollars were prioritized for direct district use and that districts should retain flexibility. Representative Morgan’s motion to earmark the $250,000 failed on the floor.
Representative Hatch offered and the House debated extensive compensation and classified-employee language to assure equitable treatment for classified staff; after multiple substitute attempts the House adopted a divided set of items addressing beginning-teacher compensation and local control for classified pay adjustments.
Representative Stevenson closed by urging support for SB3; the House voted 69 yes and 2 no to pass the bill and referred it for further action as required by procedure.
Votes and formal action: Senate Bill 3 passed the House 69–2. Floor amendments to establish a specific line item for the University of Utah reading center were defeated; several compensation-related amendments were adopted in divided votes.
