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A plan to invest in technology for Utah's classrooms cleared its first legislative hurdle last week, earning the approval of the House Education Committee.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. John Knotwell, R-Herriman, is based on the state school board's Essential Elements plan, which would create a $100 million grant program for school districts to purchase learning devices, train teachers on the use of technology, and enhance the digital infrastructure at schools.

"This has been a really cooperative effort, bringing basically all of the education stakeholders together," said David Thomas, vice chairman of the State Board of Education.

But preliminary budget numbers approved Thursday morning fall far short of the bill's $100 million target.

The recommended budget from the Public Education Appropriations Committee included $25 million for the technology program, with additional revenue being gobbled up by a $40 million boost to charter school funding, $90 million for enrollment growth, and a 2.5 percent increase, or $70 million, to the weighted pupil unit, a metric used for per-student-funding calculations.

Those numbers are subject to change before the budget is finalized, but Knotwell acknowledged the technology program was unlikely to receive its asking price.

"We probably all recognize that $100 million is not likely what this will end up at," he said.

During committee debate, lawmakers questioned whether funding should be earmarked for technology or added to the weighted pupil unit, or WPU, which is distributed to school districts and charters as unrestricted funds.

Rep. Justin Fawson, R-North Ogden, opposed the bill in a "protest vote" in favor of a larger WPU increase.

And Rep. Marie Poulson, D-Salt Lake City, said she could support the bill on the House floor if per-student spending is adequately funded.

Utah currently ranks last in the nation for state per-student spending, a ranking that would remain unchanged by a $70 million increase. "I am going to withhold my vote until I get an assurance that this is going to go along with a substantial rise in the WPU," Poulson said. Terry Shoemaker, superintendent of Wasatch County School District, spoke in favor of the bill.

He said his district was already ahead of the curve on classroom technology, but the grant program would provided additional support for personalized learning initiatives.

"I believe this is an outstanding plan," he said.

And Rep. Francis Gibson, R-Mapleton, said that lawmakers increase per-pupil spending each year, but districts continue to struggle with investments in technology without an earmarked program.

"Transformation is not cheap," Gibson said. "But our kids have technology everywhere around them — until they walk into the school."

The bill will now go before the full House for consideration.

Final budget numbers will be subject to the success and failure of specific bills, as well as debate in the Legislature's Executive Appropriations Committee.

Twitter: @bjaminwood