AFC Applauds Utah House Passage of ESA Legislation

Today the Utah House of Representatives passed a bill that would create an Education Savings Account (ESA) for all Utah children. The bill passed by a strong margin of 54 to 20 and next goes to the Senate.

Statement from Elisa Clements, COO of the American Federation for Children:

“The American Federation for Children congratulates the Utah House of Representatives for putting the needs of children first. This expansive program will create opportunities for thousands of Utah families to customize the education for their children and allow them to thrive.

“As a longtime Utah resident and advocate for educational options, I could not be more thrilled to see this important legislation progress.”

Details:

HB 215 would establish the Utah Fits All Scholarship Program, an Education Savings Account Program available to every student in the state of Utah.

Students would be eligible for an ESA of $8,000 per year to be used for qualified education expenses including private school tuition, therapies, tutors, and curriculum.

Lower-income families would receive preference in the application process, and the program would also allow partial scholarship awards for students who maintain partial enrollment in their public school. The bill would also provide a pay increase for public school teachers.