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Carmen Nesbitt

Education Reporter

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) The library at West High School in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. Utah banned seven more books from all public schools in the state, bringing the total to 44 prohibited titles.

Utah just banned 7 new books — at once — from all public schools in the state. Here’s what the novels are about.

By Carmen Nesbitt | October 1, 2026, 5:02 p.m.

(Illustration by Christopher Cherrington | The Salt Lake Tribune) How did Utah families spend the roughly $94 million allocated in the state voucher program's second year? Here's what the latest spending report shows.

Utah voucher spending: Two years into the program, here’s how Utah Fits All recipients spent their latest checks

By Carmen Nesbitt | September 29, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Davis School District in Farmington, on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.

For this Utah school board, book ban decisions are now considered ‘routine’ business — no public discussion necessary

By Carmen Nesbitt | September 28, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) A sign indicates a book for sale at Barnes and Noble that has been banned in Utah public schools in Salt Lake City Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024.

Authors whose books have been banned in Utah schools can continue to sue the state, judge says

By Carmen Nesbitt | September 17, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Utah Education Association) Talia Casares, left, receives congratulations after being named 2027 Utah Teacher of the Year at an awards ceremony on Sept. 3, 2026. Casares, a sixth grade teacher at Moroni Elementary in Sanpete County, died Sept. 14, the North Sanpete School District reported.

Utah’s newly named Teacher of the Year dies at 39, days after receiving the recognition

By Carmen Nesbitt | September 15, 2026, 8:20 p.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Fourth grade teacher Gina Vaughan welcomes students on the first day of school at Beacon Heights Elementary in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026.

The results are in: Most Utah students are behind in core subjects, state test scores show

By Carmen Nesbitt | September 15, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Board member Joseph Kerry, District 2, listens during a 2025 meeting for the Utah State Board of Education. Kerry announced on his Facebook page on Sept. 11, 2026, that he will resign from his seat and drop his reelection bid.

A Utah state school board member is resigning, and dropping his reelection bid. Here’s why.

By Carmen Nesbitt | September 14, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(The Salt Lake Tribune) Clockwise from top left: M. Lynn Bennion Elementary, Hawthorne Elementary, Mary W. Jackson Elementary and Riley Elementary have been recommended to close by the Salt Lake City School District.

What should Salt Lake City School District do with its shuttered campuses? Here’s how you can share your opinion.

By Carmen Nesbitt | September 11, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) A cyclists rides in the rain in Sugar House Park on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026.

How Hurricane Marie could impact Labor Day weekend plans in Utah

By Carmen Nesbitt | September 6, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) An air tanker drops retardant near the Broad Fire at the mouth of the Weber Canyon near South Weber on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026.

I-84 in Weber County reopens as crews fight 125-acre fire

By Carmen Nesbitt | September 6, 2026, 2:00 p.m.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) History teacher Joel Flood teaches his class at Willow Creek Middle School in Lehi on Tuesday, Jan 7, 2025.

Inspired by MAHA, Utah banned food dyes from school meals — but 99% of Davis County parents still OK’d them as snacks

By Carmen Nesbitt | September 4, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Utah State Board of Education in Salt Lake City on Thursday, April 3, 2025.

Meet Utah’s 2027 Teacher of the Year: Talia Casares, who creatively weaves language and STEM in her sixth grade lessons

By Carmen Nesbitt | September 4, 2026, 8:04 p.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) The school library at West High School in Salt Lake City. A new state survey will direct school library staff across the state to detail their book purchases, spending and more.

Are book vendors intentionally selling pornographic content to public schools? Utah is spending $60K to find out.

By Carmen Nesbitt | August 31, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Students and staff at Centennial Elementary School, part of the Alpine School District, on the first day of school this August. Next fall, the Alpine district will split into three, and Centennial will become part of the new Timpanogos School District.

This Utah school district doesn’t exist yet — but it’s already looking at closing some schools

By Carmen Nesbitt | August 26, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Davis School District in Farmington. The district's decision to support removing "Fight Club from schools without discussion likely violated Utah procedure, state officials say.

This Utah school district didn’t talk about ‘Fight Club.’ Now, it could be in trouble with the state.

By Carmen Nesbitt | August 25, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Students and staff at Centennial Elementary, part of the Alpine School District, celebrate the first day of school on Wed Aug. 19, 2026. Next fall, Alpine will split into three, and Centennial will be part of the new Timpanogos School District.

Utah’s largest school district just welcomed students back for the final time. Here’s how it will soon split into 3.

By Carmen Nesbitt | August 20, 2026, 5:10 p.m.

(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) A pamphlet of banned books in Utah sits on a shelf at Central Book Exchange in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. "Push" by Sapphire was the latest book to be banned across Utah.

Utah just banned the book that inspired the hit film ‘Precious’ from all public schools

By Carmen Nesbitt | Sean P. Means | August 20, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Students arrive on the first day of school at Hillside Middle School in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026.

Photos: Here’s a look at Salt Lake City’s first day of school for 2026

By Carmen Nesbitt | August 18, 2026, 11:03 p.m.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Hilltop Methodist Church and Christian School in Sandy. In July, the school's entire staff resigned following what they described as a year of mounting tension with school leadership.

Every single teacher at a private Utah school decided to resign this summer. Here’s what we know.

By Carmen Nesbitt | August 18, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Karl Maeser Preparatory Academy in Lindon. U.S. News and World Report ranked the public charter Utah's No. 1 high school.

Utah’s best high schools: Did your school make the latest list?

By Carmen Nesbitt | August 18, 2026, 5:35 p.m.