Utah Education Association President Renée Pinkney addressed the Utah State Board of Education on October 2, outlining UEA’s top legislative priorities for the upcoming 2026 General Session. Pinkney emphasized the shared responsibility of parents and educators in ensuring every student has the resources and support to succeed.
“We know that students do their best when educators and parents work together and collaborate for their personalized education, reaching their full potential, and for stronger schools,” Pinkney said.
Key Funding Priorities
UEA is urging lawmakers to put students first by committing to strong, sustainable public education investments. The association is calling for:
- At least a 2 percent increase on the Weighted Pupil Unit (WPU) above the required inflation and enrollment growth adjustment.
- Expansion of the Educator Salary Adjustment program to include school-registered nurses.
- No additional public dollars diverted to unaccountable private religious school vouchers.
- Establishing long-term revenue streams to guarantee sufficient and sustainable K-12 education funding.
Policy Focus Areas
In addition to funding, UEA highlighted specific policy priorities to address pressing needs in Utah classrooms:
- Clarifying statute to reinstate speech language pathologists as eligible for classroom supply funding.
- Supporting legislation to improve student attendance and reduce chronic absenteeism by providing critical resources for educators, students, and families.
- Reducing special education caseloads and class sizes to improve workloads and student support.
- Increasing resources for school safety and student well-being, including investments in facilities, school psychologists, social workers, and counselors.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 General Session
Pinkney underscored UEA’s commitment to working collaboratively with policymakers, parents, and education partners during the 2026 General Session, which runs from January 20 to March 6, 2026.
“UEA is looking forward to working with you, other policymakers, parents, and education partners throughout the session to advance these priorities and advocate for Utah’s public students and educators,” she said.
