Julio Fuentes, of Competitive America, an education-focused business coalition, said Utah's Latino population is about 12 percent and rapidly growing. Unfortunately, the high school dropout rate for Latino students is more than 40 percent, he said.

"And Latinos here are not improving as quickly as Latinos elsewhere," warned Fuentes, who flew in from Florida where he is also chief executive of the Hispanic Chamber. "The current approach to education is not working for Latinos in this state."

Fuentes said he came to Utah to speak on behalf of vouchers because the state's program, which faces a referendum Tuesday, is seen as a "milestone" to education reformers around the nation.

Tony Yapias, a Democratic activist and former State director of Hispanic Affairs, called on the Legislature to better fund public education. But a voucher program would complement the public schools by giving parents a needed alternative.

Voucher opponents say the program, which offers up to $3,000 in aid, would provide little help to poverty level families trying to meet private school costs.