Your Daily Guide

Utah’s education system is at an interesting crossroads. As public schools grapple with shrinking enrollment and the prospect of more closures, the state is simultaneously investing $120 million in Utah Fits All, its private school program. Together, the two stories raise big questions about the future of public education in Utah.

• Public schools are shrinking: Salt Lake City School District enrollment has fallen 24% over the past decade, driven largely by lower birth rates, fewer families with children living in the city, and an aging population. District leaders say more elementary school closures could be considered in the coming years as some schools fall well below capacity. [Salt Lake Tribune]
• High demand for vouchers: Utah Fits All provides taxpayer-funded scholarships that families can use for private school tuition and approved homeschool expenses. This year, a record 27,560 students applied, nearly 20,000 scholarships were awarded and about 7,500 students landed on the waitlist, prompting supporters to ask lawmakers for even more funding. [KUTV]
• How the money was spent: A new state audit found most voucher dollars were spent on legitimate educational expenses, but flagged high-end purchases like a $6,000 MacBook Pro and a $4,800 mountain bike. Many of those purchases have since been prohibited under changes lawmakers made to the program. [Salt Lake Tribune]

Reckoning at Provo Canyon

Utah is shutting down the girls’ campus at Provo Canyon School after regulators found the facility failed to protect teens from harm and used improper physical restraints. After years of speaking out about her own alleged abuse at the school, Paris Hilton called the move validation for survivors. [Salt Lake Tribune]

Bezos Funds Trees for SLC

Salt Lake City just landed $11.5 million to make the 9-Line Trail and future Fleet Block greener, shadier, and more resilient to extreme heat. The funding comes from the Bezos Earth Fund, which selected Salt Lake as one of eight U.S. cities to receive a grant this year. [Salt Lake City]

New Sports at the Winter Olympics

The 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps will debut freeride skiing and snowboarding and synchronized skating, while Nordic combined has been dropped from the program. The changes could also influence which sports appear at Salt Lake City’s 2034 Winter Games. [Deseret News]

Need a New Job?

The Utah Department of Workforce Services is hosting a free statewide virtual job fair on Thursday, July 9 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. It will feature more than 50 employers hiring for over 2,000 positions. [ABC4]

The Squirrels Taking Over Our City

We know fox squirrels are taunting Salt Lake dogs, but are they taking over our city? Here’s why the Natural History Museum of Utah thinks these critters are worth studying. [City Cast Salt Lake 🎧]