Issue Position: Education

Issue Position

Cory believes strongly that the federal government does not belong in Utah's school curriculum. Learning belongs in the hands of parents, teachers and local schools. Funding for education, which is half of Utah's annual budget, needs to focus on supporting parents with the choices they want in educating their children.

Additionally, the state needs to focus on supporting early education -- pre-school to 2nd grade -- where the learning gap is greatest. Closing that gap is the quickest way to ensure students have successful school careers.

As in many industries and professions, technology is already causing a disruption to teaching. Education should utilize technology as a tool to assist professionals and parents in teaching their children. This does not mean spending hundreds of millions of dollars on iPads and other devices to give to all kids. The Los Angeles School District spent more than $1 billion on iPads to give to each student without enough thought on how to use them for teaching. It was a disaster.

The key to success is meshing compelling and useful curriculum with appropriate devices that engage students, improve learning results, and provide robust metrics of achievement and advancement.

Cory is open to all efficient and cost-effective ways of teaching, teacher professional development, and parental choice, but opposes federal government intervention and federal government sponsored programs and standards. The federal government should not force standards.

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