Demographic trends affecting public education in Utah

Beginning in 2004 and continuing for at least a decade, the school age population (5 to 18 year olds) in Utah will increase significantly. Throughout the 1990s, the school age population in Utah grew more slowly than did the population in general so that its share in the total population declined. This trend is expected to soon reverse. Given that Utah currently has more school age persons per capita than any other state, this increase will complicate an already challenging public education funding situation.