Committee unanimously backs charter‑funding study, one‑time stabilization funds in SB186

The House Education Standing Committee voted unanimously Feb. 26 to recommend favorably Senate Bill 186, legislation that would authorize a comprehensive study of charter‑school funding and provide limited one‑time investment to stabilize charter operations and build a charter service center.

Senator Baldry, the bill sponsor, said SB186 would task the Utah State Board of Education, the legislative fiscal analyst and charter stakeholders to compare charter funding with similarly sized districts and return recommendations to the Legislature. Baldry told the committee she collected over 5,000 parent signatures supporting the bill and said she reduced an initial $15 million funding request to a lower ongoing figure to reflect fiscal priorities.

"SB186 addresses a real funding disparity between charter schools and district schools," Baldry told the committee, outlining three components: funding a charter‑funding study, a one‑time stabilization investment from the Education Stabilization Fund, and seed money to establish a charter service center.

Kim Frank of the Utah Charter Network told the committee joint analysis with USBE finance staff suggested charters face $20–$50 million in underfunding across major funding streams, and cited an aggregate estimate in committee materials of roughly $118,400,000. Frank described targeted one‑time needs such as student information system integration, financial systems and HR/payroll upgrades as typical uses for initial stabilization dollars.

Representative McPherson moved to recommend the bill favorably; after clarifying questions about the fiscal note and who will fund ongoing costs, the committee approved the motion unanimously.

The measure passed out of committee with the committee’s favorable recommendation; the public record indicates the study is intended to inform future appropriations decisions.