Lawmakers, teachers close to a deal on constitutional changes to school funding

UtahPolicy.com is told that the last large group needed to make a significant change to how colleges and public schools are funded, now and in the future -- the Utah Education Association -- is close to coming on board with a legislative grand compromise.

The deal "is very close," one source said Tuesday afternoon, but the final wording and budgeting remain to be negotiated.

On the money side, GOP lawmakers (Democrats would certainly be on board with this idea) would fund the Weighted Pupil Unit, the basic per-student state funding formula, close to 6 percent more this coming fiscal year, which starts July 1. That would be nearly $200 million more in new funding for schools.

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