We have some positive news to share about funding! The appropriations negotiation for the Utah Fits All Scholarship Program has been initiated by a Request for Appropriations (RFA). Last week our Senate Floor Sponsor, Senator Kirk Cullimore, presented an RFA to the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee in the amount of $80 million for new money to expand the program. This request is a starting point for consideration as the appropriations committees begin to sort through and rank requests for the limited dollars available to fund programs. As a review, last year the RFA request ultimately resulted in an additional $40M, which doubled the scholarship fund from $40M to $80M. Here’s a fairly positive article from ABC4 about the RFA.
The $80M RFA presented is a starting point for negotiations. The debate and discussion will be ongoing for the next few weeks before numbers are finalized and determined. It is important for us to stay positive and unified in our efforts in order to encourage the legislature to increase funding and expand the program for more Utah families. Remember, this year's waitlist had over 17,000 students hopeful to find their fit in education!
We remain optimistic that we will receive an increase! Watch for updates and future Calls to Action once the Executive Appropriations Committee takes up all requests and begins finalizing funding decisions. Please be ready to advocate!
The numbers continue to grow as anticipation builds around our next UEFA Provider Fair. There is lots of excitement around our venue choice at Brigham Young University. Join us on their beautiful campus.
📅 When: March 8, 2025
📍 Where: BYU Harman Building, Provo
⏰ Time: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
In fact, our very favorite thing about hosting these events is seeing all the families come together to explore the many new ways to customize their learning experience. Whether you’re a homeschooler seeking new resources, a parent looking into private school options, or curious about innovative solutions such as microschools or co-ops, we’ve got something for everyone. UEFA connects families to education options that align better with their values, expectations, and their children’s unique needs.
Speaking of exploring options — if you want to check out a wide variety of education providers, you really should join our facebook group, UEFA Provider to Parent Connect! Providers share and post information about their offerings daily. You can pose questions about goods and services you are seeking, and get connected. It’s an incredible and easy resource to access!