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Show I Sun Advocate Price, Utah Tuesday December 31 2002 3A , Utah faces mounting challenges in funding public education in state: (Continued from page pupil-teach- er Education spending through seven, science in grades four through eight and in various subjects at the junior high and high school level The core assessment examinations are administered to all elementaiy students attending public schools in Utah. But after entering junior high or high school, students take specific subject tests for corresponding ac- tion. Surging public school enrollments are projected and the states economy Is expected to expand at a slower pace, noted the Utah Foundation. Kindergarten through 12th grade enrollments in public schools across the state are expected to jump by 102,434 students or 21.5 percent from 2001 to 2011, noted the Utah Foundation. Demographers predict the states high fertility rate and the number of women in prime childbearing years will account for 70,000 students. In addition to scrambling to address the states pressing budget challenges, the federal No Child Left Behind law will require increased effort and changes in Utahs existing education system, explained the foundation. Key requirements of the nationwide education guidelines include the following mandates: All Utah teachers must be certified by the state and instruct in declared areas of classes. The criterion referenced tests measure understanding of the core curriculum by assigning students to one of four categories: mastery, near mastery, partial mastery or minimal mastery. The ACT is a voluntary entrance exam taken by the majority of Utahs college-boun- d juniors and seniors. Students scored an average of 21.4, while the nationwide composite was 21. Utahs average score falls within a statistically insignificant range of difference, indicated the foundation. Utah benefitted from the economic boom of the 1990s, witnessing unparalleled job growth, falling poverty statewide, low unemployment rates and steady personal income increases. As joblessness fell at locations across the state, so did the poverty level. In 1999, the poverty rate in Utah registered at 5.7 percent, representing the lowest figure of the on record and national average of 14.2 per- 6, socio-econom- counts for 53.4 of Utahs total annual budgetary expenditures and the state will face several major funding challenges in the future, pointed out the founda- administered in languagefead-in- g in grades one through six, mathematics in grades one 2005-200- 2007-200- K-1- Utahs core assessments are one-thi- By Utah traditionally posts the ratio of highest any state, according to the foundation. In 1994, the number stood at 24 students per teacher. The ratio has declined to 22 students per teacher. As enrollments in 2 education slowed , so did Utahs budgetary funding efforts. From 1995 to 2000, kindergarten to 12th grade public education spending fell from 41.2 percent of the states total spending to 38.5 percent significantly. . all third through eighth graders in Utah must be tested annually in math and reading. 8 science tests By must be administered at least once in grades three through five, six through nine and 10 through 12. All states must participate in the National Assessment of Educational Progress. The results must be disaggregated according to membership in various groups. All student groups must make adequate yearly progress on the tests. Schools failing to post adequate yearly progress in any designated group will be labeled as needing improvement. The schools will be required to improve within a specified time period. Schools foiling to improve will be subject to various levels of restructuring according to a specified time table. The federal guidelines allow states limited flexibility, indicated the foundation. For example, states may select the tests administered to students and define adequate yearly progress. The remaining areas of the federal law are compulsory. Foundation analysts have charted the progress of the fifth, eighth and 11th grade students in urban, rural and sub- - age grew by slightly more than 8 percent to $6,508. 1A) fifth graders register slightly below or barely above the 50th percentile, while Utahs 11th graders approach the 60th percentile. In SAT subjects, third graders lag behind the national average in language or writing skills. Utahs language scores remain below or at the national median in the fifth, eighth and 11th grade results, Utahs public school children score well in science at all grade levels. But social science results for eighth and 11th graders continue to fluctuate ic urban school districts since 1997. The results of the founda- tion evaluation confirm that: Utahs urban and rural students continually lag behind the suburban counterparts. Urban students encounter the most difficulties in the fifth grade. . Students attending Utahs rural and urban public schools perform relatively equally in the eighth grade. Rural students in the state face the most difficulties in the 11th grade. While scores in the suburban districts have remained stable or improved in recent years, test results in urban districts have declined at all grade levels. Rural public school districts in Utah posted similar declines. or accident injury is keeping you from doing the things you love, see Lee Nielsen, physical therapist, at Ifa sports Mountain Land Rehabilitation. Lee is the local rehab expert you am trust to provide caring, treatment that will help you recover firm any type of injury and get you back to playing and living your best! high-quali- ty Lee Nielsen, PT 140 North GedarHflb Drive in Pika 2 for an appointment Cal 037-605- Mountain Land. PHYSICAL THERAPY a REHABILITATION Most insurance accepted fAsk your doctor, to refer o Mountain Land therapist U 1 i?VMc ' $ 7$ largest Auto Parts Selettion ia the Area! NAPA EVERCRAFT 10th Anniversary Master Tool Seh TOSHIBA SD-V2- 80 DVDVRC Combo Only $1 TOSHIBA DS1800 DVD study. Only Player Car Stereo 93" 730-308- $7099 0 125 So. Hwy. 55, Ste B (Next to Super Walmart) (6272) OPEN MON-SA- rd Player wSpeakers WHILE SUPPUE? LAST iniw T" 'V. CD 637-NAP- A Tl 8-- 7 SUN: 9--5 cent. In 1994, jobs in Utah climbed 6.2 percent - double the national 3.1 percent peak. During the period from 1994 to 1997, personal income in the state expanded faster than the national average, while enrollment in Utahs public schools slowed dramatically. In the decade of the 1990s, Utah experienced only a 7 percent increase in the number of students attending public education institutions statewide. The vast majority of the student enrollment growth occurred between 1990 and 1993. In 1990, per pupil funding in Utah registered at $3,400, compared with a national aver- Castle Valley Community Theatre Open Auditions for Ages 12-9- 0 Bye Bye Birdie January 7-8- -9 7 pm age of $6,023. By 1999, Utahs funding level climbed to $4,210 per pupil for an increase of almost Mont Harmon Choir room 24 percent. The national aver You Don't "I WESTERN BUX 12 OL. WESTERN Evaporated Mflk. HUMX 7.25 ox-- . - ;?htacaraaitCtieeso WESTB MAX Canned, n Gnoa Bean A 14.5 OL Con - Eg?" Bended. 15 teg. 08, 16 K. k WBlBWMWnlntrCaLffflt Fra&aWBaehtees ih w1-0- 0 ,! ' 'wl'V i Onions WESTERN WMUC 15 j Ot .$ CM Con Came We are very exated about this issue, this time of year people are concerned about health and fitness, due to the time of year and the weather. WESTERN FAMm Fancy Tomato Sauce Lastyear at thistime we introduced our Focus Health and Beauty pages, and we had a gret response. wr.1 fe. l vw 31.M 3 " IFWWXWhto.ZpMrol .79 Bathroom Time WESTERN RUNX Dacon 1 ml 10.' 21J00 Paper Tbwete .L , ( t ,79 A'--- .: Barakas, SMms, 10 fa. bag i Our First Annuai edition which will be published in the Sun Advocate and Emery County Progress in January. NC L 31.00 To Miss Cffledtaill Kteallfilni & FoGddbos Vf.00, ol Want - tedM or CoM .Bated V Braced igtio .; jf. . v k 1.49 1 qq. 1.79 ltenaloes :r. l'I? TflESH EXPRESS, fa . IJftiK k J9i W Now we want to focus more on' our Specialists in our area, and we are very fortunate to have so many. V your ad In this special edition call Jenni, Holley or Shirley today at 2 to place your ad In this special that will reach all of Carbon and To place WESTERN FAMILY Mushrooms 637-073- Lots f Mlrao, A Mon Sales In Stors .Prices Good V 12-3- 1 Iftra Mod, ff ' 43 Emery County. |