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Government Specialist Richard Piatt reportingThe tuition tax credits issue is getting a serious look on Utah's Capitol Hill.
Today promoters of the idea have brought in an expert to sell lawmakers and to answer questions.
There is concern among a lot of people in education that tuition tax credits could harm public school funding.
But today, lawmakers got a different message from an advocate of tuition tax credits who says Utah needs to think of education funding differently.
Lisa Keegan, Arizona's former superintendent of public education addressed serious questions at this small breakfast this morning.
Some of the common concerns that money will be taken away from public schools and that only wealthy kids will benefit are only myths, Keegan says.
The bottom line is that something in education isn't working in Utah.
Keegan suggests that based on her experience in Arizona, tuition tax credits are worth a closer look.
"I think it's a bold move toward progress. I think it's extremely positive. It re-envisions public education which is what we need to do. You can't look at the results that we're getting in that kids that are poor are doing more poorly in this system," Keegan says.
Keegan is a well-known education reform advocate--her point of view is clear.
At this point, lawmakers are being very cautious about tuition tax credits, and they want to make sure a new program does not harm the current public education system.
