"We think [the bill creating Utah's school voucher program is] questionable legislation," said J. Dale Christensen, the Jordan board president. "The question is should public monies be used for private or parochial schools?"

Utah's voucher program, if implemented this fall, will be the most expansive in the nation.

It will provide public funds to pay private school tuition to the parents of all public school children regardless of family income.

Opponents including the PTA and other public education groups are trying to collect 92,000 signatures statewide by next month to delay the program's implementation until a vote on vouchers can take place.

Jordan's resolution states that the voucher program is expected to cost taxpayers more than $425 million during the next 13 years, "requires little accountability from private schools for the public funds they receive" and passed the House last month by just one vote.

Public schools in Utah accept all students while they simultaneously face massive class sizes and the worst funding for education in the nation, the resolution says.

jlyon@sltrib.com