In a decade of prosperity, Governor Leavitt has led aggressive investment in public education.

Teachers are better paid, have more time for planning, and have added opportunities for staff development geared to their specific needs. More classrooms are connected to the Internet than ever before and thousands of teachers have computers and related technologies to assist and improve their instruction. The Utah Education Network is a national leader in connecting schools to electronic resources. And, class sizes have been reduced in an effort to create a more personal, individualized approach to learning.

In post secondary education, a new system has been created to support applied technology colleges and plans are in place to strengthen and expand these institutions. Major new engineering and science buildings are being designed and constructed to dramatically increase enrollment for future scientists and engineers. Research funding is at an all-time high. All of these advances represent an important investment in Utah's future.

With heightened investment comes greater accountability. Accountability is raising standards, setting targets, improving measurements and demanding more from students, parents, teachers, school districts and government. Governor Leavitt expects increased investment will lead to better educational outcomes. The UPASS program, which requires the regular assessment of all students before they complete their secondary schooling, will document student learning, indicate deficiencies, and give educators information about needed remediation. Schools will have a much clearer basis for determining the strengths and weaknesses of their instructional program. The need for good information and the requirement for better results will give policy makers, parents, and students a basis for optimizing their choices in the future.