Utah School Boards Association - USBA

The U.S. Department of Education has announced the release of $144 million in surplus, non-expiring IDEA funds. These dollars will be distributed to states via formula grants starting July 1 and October 1, 2026.

This financial boost arrives as special education enrollment continues to climb significantly nationwide, even amidst slight declines in overall public school enrollment.

Read the full policy breakdown below

Ed Department to release $144M for special education, early intervention The Wednesday announcement also included guidance to states on using IDEA funds to help expectant parents of children with disabilities.

Today, the USBA joins the nation in observing Memorial Day. We pause to honor and remember the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.
Their courage, dedication, and selflessness protect the freedoms we enjoy every single day. We owe them a debt of gratitude that can never truly be repaid.

Wishing our entire USBA community a safe, peaceful, and meaningful Memorial Day.

Hats off to the Class of 2026! 🎓✨
On behalf of the Utah School Board Association, we want to extend our warmest congratulations to this year’s incredible graduates. From your very first day of kindergarten to walking across the commencement stage, your journey has been defined by hard work, resilience, and countless unforgettable moments.
Whether you are heading off to college, mastering a trade, entering the workforce, serving your religion or serving your country, you represent the bright future of Utah. We also want to give a massive shoutout to the parents, teachers, and school board members who supported these students every step of the way.
Utah is so proud of you. Go out there and make your mark!

👇 Drop a picture or congratulate your favorite 2026 graduate in the comments below!

The USBA is thrilled to congratulate Pine View High School senior Kiera Sam Fong on her nomination for Sports Illustrated High School’s National Girls Athlete of the Week!

Kiera is currently putting together one of the most dominant throwing seasons in Utah state history. Just this week, she swept all three throwing events—shot put, discus, and javelin—at the Region 9 Championships.

Why this is a big deal:

She is the first girls' athlete in Utah history to break the 50-foot mark in shot put.

She recently shattered state records during a triple-event sweep at the BYU Invitational.

Let’s show the rest of the country how Utah supports its student-athletes!

Congratulations to Pine View High School senior Kiera Sam Fong for being nominated for Sports Illustrated High School’s National Girls Athlete of the Week! 🎉

Kiera continued one of the greatest throwing seasons in Utah history this week, sweeping the Region 9 Championships in all three throwing events — shot put, discus, and javelin. She also recently became the first girls' athlete in Utah state history to break the 50-foot mark in shot put. 💪

This recognition follows another historic showing at the PACS BYU Invitational, where she swept all three throwing events and shattered Utah records in the process.

Be sure to vote for Kiera for National Girls Athlete of the Week here: https://www.si.com/high-school/national/vote-who-should-be-high-school-on-si-national-girls-athlete-of-the-week-5-11-2026-01kr9qnbtkrd

It’s Teacher Appreciation Week! 🍎 Here are some practical ways to support the educators who go above and beyond for our community.

📦 Restock the Classroom: Supplies run low this time of year—think dry-erase markers, tissues, and high-quality pens.

📝 The Power of Advocacy: Send an email to the principal highlighting your teacher's impact. It’s a gift that stays in their professional file forever.

✉️ A Sincere Note: Never underestimate the value of a handwritten letter from a parent or student.

Let’s show our teachers the appreciation they deserve! How are you saying thanks this week? Let us know in the comments! 👇

The Utah School Boards Association (USBA) Board of Directors gathered for a weekend of strategic planning and board work. We have some great representation of local board members who empower our mission of "Building Better Boards".
We had a service project making food kits for Washington County School District's teen centers. Lastly we also had our annual 5K run/walk where we had record participation of USBA members and their families.

We want to give a huge shout-out to the Provo City School District leadership team for their incredible presentation at the NSBA National Conference!
They didn't just attend; they led the conversation on how to transform district culture. Their session explored the vital "how-to" of:
✅ Building transparency through communication systems.
✅ Creating a safe environment for collaboration.
✅ Navigating difficult board dynamics.
✅ Linking executive cohesion to better student outcomes.
It’s inspiring to see Provo’s commitment to their 13,500 students recognized on such a large scale. Join us in celebrating their hard work and dedication to the craft of school board leadership!
Provo City School District

Representing Utah at the NSBA Delegate Assembly today! 🐝
Our officers successfully advocated for you by proposing an amendment to shift a key resolution away from polarizing language, refocusing on our core mission: serving ALL students. The amendment passed with broad support, and we’re proud to lead the way in unified advocacy. 🎓✨

Governor Spencer Cox has officially declared April 2026 as Resilient Utah Month. Throughout the month, our Utah school communities will be focusing on strengthening the "protective shields" that help our children navigate life's challenges.
Access the free Child Connection Toolkit for resources and activities to use at home or in the classroom.

Learn more and find resources at the link below:
🔗 https://resilientyou.org/utah-resilience-month/