The legislation has stirred strong emotions among supporters and those who oppose the proposed Utah Fits All Scholarship.
SALT LAKE CITY — Fernando Ruiz, a senior at St. Joseph Catholic High School in Ogden, said"My family is not wealthy, far from it," Ruiz told members of the Utah Legislature Senate Education Committee on Monday.
While the proposed Utah Fits All Scholarship would not benefit Ruiz, it would be a sea change in Utah education policy in that it would expand the use of public money for private education choices far beyond existing programs that help families of children with disabilities make private education choices.
Stacey Mollinet, president of Utah PTA, likewise expressed the organization's objections to the legislation. Barbara Thornton and her daughter Bonnie Thornton cheer at a rally against school vouchers at the Capitol in Salt Lake City, on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023. Barbara also has another child with special needs and is a substitute teacher.
"My remarks as an individual should not be interpreted to represent any organization, the legislature, or the tens of thousands of Utahns who are asking for more education opportunities for their families or communities. Like any other mom, I want every child in Utah to have access to an education that helps them thrive," Sorenson said.
"My job as a legislator is to help those with maybe extreme points of view moderate that and maybe get it to a point where we can pass the bill. And that's what we're trying to do here," Cullimore said.
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