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SALT LAKE CITY — As Utah lawmakers weigh whether to allocate more money to help Utah schools contend with increasing numbers of English-language learners, state data shows 13 districts and a charter school would potentially qualify for the funding.
HB42 calls for allocating an extra $500,000 a year to help Utah schools bolster offerings geared to English-language learners, typically immigrant children with rudimentary to basic English skills. It's one of several measures Utah lawmakers are considering this session to contend with immigration.
Per the proposal, districts experiencing jumps of at least 75% in the numbers of English-language learners with the most basic level of English over the prior three-year average would be able to tap into the $500,000. They'd also have to experience jumps of at least 30 students in the category. Using those parameters, 13 school districts in Utah and one charter school would potentially qualify for funding, going by figures for 2024, according to data supplied by the Utah Board of Education. They are:
- Athlos Academy of Utah, with 96 qualifying English-language learners as of 2024, up 220% from the prior three-year average.
- Nebo School District, 346 English-language learners, up 160%.
- Alpine School District, 1,260 English-language learners, up 139%.
- Provo School District, 605 English-language learners, up 115%.
- Jordan School District, 1,502 English-language learners, up 108%.
- Canyons School District, 1,122 English-language learners, up 107%.
- Washington School District, 557 English-language learners, up 89%.
- Weber School District, 296 English-language learners, up 89%.
- Salt Lake City School District, 1,125 English-language learners, up 84%.
- Ogden School District, 507 English-language learners, up 83%.
- Davis School District, 667 English-language learners, up 82%.
- Cache School District, 119 English-language learners, up 78%.
- Murray School District, 195 English-language learners, up 77%.
- Granite School District, 4,041 English-language learners, up 76%.
HB42 received unanimous support from House lawmakers and now awaits attention by the Utah Senate. Rep. Candice Pierucci, the bill's sponsor, sees the measure as a way of helping teachers deal with the influx of English-language learners but says she's gotten some pushback on the measure.
Though the school systems mentioned above would potentially qualify for extra funding should HB42 pass, Utah Board of Education officials would oversee the process of granting funds. The legislation calls on the board to weigh the percentage increase in numbers and financial need of individual systems applying.
