School LAND Trust
The School LAND Trust (LAND stands for Learning And Nurturing Development) program brings tens of millions of dollars annually to academic programs in public schools across Utah. The funds are generated from school trust lands. These funds are the only discretionary funds many schools receive. The program runs entirely from this web site. Each public school in Utah elects a school community council consisting of parents, teachers, and the principal. Charter Schools have Trust Lands Councils. All councils have a two parent member majority. Each council carefully reviews student assessments and progress to decide which academic areas they want to focus on. Plans are developed to improve student academic performance in the identified academic areas with the annual School LAND Trust funds. The plans are approved by the council, submitted on this website, and approved by the local school board or chartering entity.
Average Distributions for the 2024-2025 School Year
Parents act as the primary advocates for all children.
School LAND Trust Parent Responsibilities
A Checklist for Parent Members of a School LAND Trust
- Understand the roles and responsibilities of School LAND Trust Councils and the importance of participation as an elected parent member. Recognize that the primary responsibility of the School LAND Trust Councils is to improve student academic performance.
- Understand how to be elected a member of the School LAND Trust Council to represent the parents of students at the school.
- Participate in training about School LAND Trust Council responsibilities, collaboration, student and school assessments, how to participate in preparing and editing school action plans, school trust lands that provide revenue to schools to implement the School LAND Trust Plan, and the law that directs the money to be spent on the greatest academic need
- Know where to find additional help and clarification, as needed.
- Attend School LAND Trust Council meetings and actively participate.
- Serve as an officer on the School LAND Trust Council, or nominate good candidates to fill those roles.
- Provide support and encourage ongoing training for newly elected parent members.
- Represent the needs of all students at the school and promote goals and activities of school parent groups and families in the school community.
- Encourage parent input into School LAND Trust Councils issues and decisions and encourage parent involvement in task forces and sub/committees, including requests made of councils by the local school district.
- Collaborate with the School LAND Trust Council and sub-committees and/or task forces, utilizing the skills and expertise each individual can offer, to bring about the best result for the students.
- Be well informed and seek answers to questions and concerns before a vote is called for
- Encourage the School LAND Trust Council to establish written procedures for parent notifications, elections and other School LAND Trust Council tasks and responsibilities, including rules outlining parliamentary order and procedure, ethical behavior and civil discourse
- Celebrate successes towards achieving School LAND Trust Council goals with the parents. Be forthcoming about issues of concern and plans to make improvements. Actively promote school priorities in the community