Utah lawmakers adjust funding, add rules, to Utah Fits All scholarship

SALT LAKE CITY — When Utah lawmakers created the Utah Fits All Scholarship, the intent was to pay for educational expenses incurred by parents who either home-schooled or sent their kids to private school.

But not long after the first checks were written to these parents, Utah lawmakers are making some adjustments to the program.

Generally, this scholarship, or voucher, provides up to $8,000 to parents to spend on an eligible education provider. The 2024-2025 school year was the first year parents could apply.

HB455 adjusts the percentage of the scholarship amount that can go toward extracurricular activities and physical education.

Before a vote by the full House on Monday the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Candice Pierucci, R-Riverton, explained the reasoning behind the changes, or “guardrails,” as she described them. 

“I think it’s important that we’re being good stewards of taxpayer dollars,” Pierucci told lawmakers. “And so we have a host of prohibited expenses here to make sure that this is truly going for educational expenses and individualized learning of students.”

Pierucci said that while some extracurriculars (referred to as “PE”) would be capped in their funding, music and art programs would be allowed.

Along with restricting the scholarship from being spent on things like ski passes or lift tickets, HB455 lowers the amount of money available for certain home-based learners.

“We will be maintaining the amount of the scholarship for private school families. But adjusting the amount for home-based learners. So for elementary children that amount will be $4,000, and for middle school and high school aged children, that amount will be six thousand dollars,” Pierucci said.

On Monday, the latest version of the bill got the green light in the House. It now heads to the Utah Senate for approval.

 

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