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Utah STEM Action Center says $8M cut would eliminate core math and professional-learning programs
Summary
The Utah STEM Action Center told a legislative subcommittee that an $8 million ongoing cut under consideration would eliminate its three math programs and most professional learning: the agency said the reduction would affect 30% of staff and 80% of its budget, and staff pledged to propose alternate reductions.
SALT LAKE CITY ' The director of the Utah STEM Action Center told the Economic and Community Development Appropriations Subcommittee on Jan. 21 that a proposed $8,000,000 ongoing cut would eliminate core math instruction and professional-learning programs and sharply reduce the center's statewide work.
"If we take the full $8,000,000 as it exists right now, that would eliminate both the math and the professional learning programs which in total consists of 6 individual programs. That would be 30% of our team, and 80% of our budget," Tammy Goetz, director of the STEM Action Center, said during a lengthier presentation on the center's mission and performance data.
Goetz described a small agency formed by the legislature in 2013 to "enhance and expand capacity for STEM resources," noting the center operates statewide with industry and education partners and a small staff (about 10 full-time employees, one part-time, plus interns). She told members the center's math portfolio includes a Personalized Digital Math program that served 721 schools and more than 130,000 students in FY2025, a Math Mentors program serving students two or more grade levels below proficiency, and early-numeracy work (Milo & Friends) that reached families through libraries and preschool partnerships.
Subcommittee members pressed the agency to identify candidate reductions rather than only defending programs. The chair said, in part, "If you don't work with us on what we got, we're gonna cut, and it may not be where you want it to be cut." Goetz responded that the center would return with thinking on where cuts could be made and emphasized a commitment to minimizing harm to communities.
CCE officials framed three of the four budget-cut recommendations as pass-through adjustments that do not directly affect CCE operations; CCE said it was neutral on those pass-through proposals but focused the committee's attention on the STEM Action Center as the division most directly affected by an $8 million ongoing reduction.
Committee staff and agency leaders said they would continue work between hearings to identify options. No formal reductions were adopted at the Jan. 21 meeting; the subcommittee will vote later in the session on a prioritized list to forward to EAC.
