The Beehive State has the opportunity to leapfrog most of the nation when it comes to creating a student-centered education funding system. SB65, a bill that would divide student-funding dollars into course-level units—allowing for the beginnings of “a la carte” education—sits on Governor Gary Herbert’s desk. The innovative bill would also link course-level funding to a student-based accountability structure. Content providers offering individual courses to students would receive 50 percent of the funds upfront and the other half upon successful course completion by the pupil. This system will be especially relevant to Utah’s digital learners, as it knocks down district walls, allowing students to take courses offered online across the state. Utah’s proposed system, if faithfully implemented, will be a giant step toward creating and holding accountable the high-quality, student-centered education system of the twenty-first century.
“Funding can now follow students to online high schools,” by Molly Farmer, Desert News, March 9, 2011.
“Utah Pushes Forward Toward Student-Centric Learning,” by Michael Horn, Forbes: Disrupting Class Blog, March 10, 2011.