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Committee hears two RFA pitches: Leader in Me expansion and classroom behavior pilot
Summary
Lawmakers heard two requests for appropriations: a $1 million one‑time appropriation to leverage $2 million private match for Franklin Covey's Leader in Me expansion (City Strong partnership), and a $300,000, three‑year pilot for teacher training (TRT) aimed at classroom behavior management.
The subcommittee considered two Requests for Appropriations (RFAs). Representative White presented a City Strong request for $1,000,000 one‑time to leverage $2,000,000 in private funds to expand Franklin Covey’s Leader in Me program to approximately 40 additional Utah schools. Michael Parker (City Strong) and Sean Covey (Franklin Covey Education) described the program’s history, the evidence base cited by vendors and a model in Georgia that used state investment to scale Leader in Me statewide.
Sean Covey characterized Leader in Me as a “whole‑school improvement process” that teaches leadership, planning, communication and project skills to students and adults and said the organization would pair the state’s $1 million with $2 million from private foundations to seed expansion. Lawmakers who spoke in favor described leadership training as durable skills that can improve culture and academic outcomes.
Representative DeFe and teacher Amy Huggins presented a separate RFA seeking $300,000 over three years for a pilot teacher training program (TRT) focused on neuroscience‑informed classroom management and de‑escalation techniques for students with challenging behavior. Huggins, who described classroom and foster‑care experience, offered anecdotal evidence—dramatic drops in office referrals and restraint use in pilot settings—and said the program’s intent is to equip teachers with skills to support high‑need students inside regular classrooms.
Both RFAs drew supportive remarks from members who stressed classroom culture and leadership as priorities. The committee did not record final action on either request in the provided transcript segment.
