As 650,000 Utah school children head back to school, the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute will host a Newsmaker Breakfast focused on education and the Our Schools Now Initiative. Nolan Karras, former Speaker of the Utah State House of Representatives, chair of Gov. Herbert’s Education Excellence Commission, and member of the Our Schools Now Steering Committee, will be our guest. Our Schools Now is a ballot initiative that would, if successful, allow Utahns to vote on a ballot measure to increase the state income and sales tax to invest in educational performance improvement. Former Speaker Karras will discuss the initiative as well as the current state of public education in Utah.

Researchers from the Utah Educational Policy Center will also be present to discuss and distribute the latest research on state education policies and practices.

The conversation will be moderated by Gardner Policy Institute director Natalie Gochnour. Media are invited to attend and ask questions.

RSVP to gardnerinstitute@eccles.utah.edu as space is limited. The event will be held in the Ivory Ballroom of the Thomas S. Monson Center. A light breakfast will be served.