One word you can't say to Republicans

As Colorado prepares to launch universal preschool, Utah is planning to expand its full-day kindergarten offerings.

Currently, 30% of Utah students have access to full-day kindergarten, compared to 80% of students across the rest of the U.S.

Anna Thomas, senior policy analyst for the nonprofit child advocacy program Voices for Utah Children, said Utah does not have the systemic approach that Colorado does.

"We are still struggling to get our state leaders, specifically leadership in the Legislature, to understand that in order to do well in first grade, lots of kids in the state need a lot of help in kindergarten that you can’t do in two and a half hours," Thomas said.

What's the argument for universal preschool?

Supporters say expanding access to early childhood education can close achievement gaps earlier and help learners rebound from the impacts of the pandemic.

What are the challenges of universal preschool?

Terri Mitchell, Canyons School District’s early childhood administrator in Utah, said it's important for families to have options for their needs. It may be unrealistic to expect some children to handle a structured classroom setting at that age.

It can also be difficult to maintain sufficient staff for preschool programs.

Here’s the one word you can’t say in a room full of Republicans

The one word? Climate.

“If you say ‘climate’ to a room full of Republicans it is no different — think about this — than saying ‘the wall’ to a room full of Democrats. Their chest tightens up. All they hear is Donald Trump agenda," Congressman John Curtis, R-Utah, said during a panel discussion Monday. "It is an off-ramp every time for people and that’s a very important thing to change."

Hannah Downey — policy director for The Property and Environment Research Center, a nonpartisan group dedicated to free market environmentalism — said during the panel that "words really matter" when discussing protecting the Earth.

"If you went to farmers and ranchers and asked, 'Are you a climate advocate?' They would probably say, 'I don’t want to touch that,'" Downey said. "But, if you ask, 'What are the most important issues that you’re dealing with?' it will be soil health, water quality and quantity, wildfire and those things. So you say, ‘Well great, you are involved in this conversation.'"

Read more about the panel discussion.

More in Politics

Business

Faith

Health

The Outdoors

Southern Utah

Central Utah

Northern Utah

The Nation

The World

Entertainment

Sports