Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable Pioneer Day! My family and I are very grateful to celebrate and honor the strength, sacrifice, and resilience of those who came before us. It's a time to reflect on the spirit of community and dedication that helped shape Utah, and to recognize all those who continue to carry that legacy forward.

This week, I had the opportunity to publish a new op-ed in The Washington Times about what I believe is the real education crisis facing our country: it's not just about falling test scores, but rather our failure to evolve. I argue that if we keep measuring success by outdated standards, we may prepare our students for a world that no longer exists. Our kids need more than just academic basics; they need durable skills like leadership, collaboration, adaptability, and financial literacy to thrive in today's world.

Read the full piece here.

I’m looking forward to attending the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) Summit this week in Boston, where I’ll have the opportunity to connect with lawmakers from around the country. Together, we’ll share ideas and explore policies to help improve our great state!

One major topic we'll be covering on behalf of Utah is the National Federalism Initiative. I'm excited to share the work we've accomplished in Utah through bills like HB488, Federalism Amendments, which I was proud to co-sponsor.

This bold effort will work to rebalance the state-federal governing partnership, reducing political friction and uncertainty, and strengthening our state and the nation.

This year, the Sutherland Institute announced the Partners in Learning Certificate project to recognize local school districts that excel at making their websites parent-friendly.

In April, school districts across the state received a rubric with details of how to obtain the certificate, with requirements such as ensuring their district policies are easily accessible, displaying curricula for each grade/subject matter, and displaying policy about instructional/library materials.

So far, 16 school districts have received this certificate, with many more working towards this achievement. I applaud the Cache County and Logan school districts for their efforts and leadership to help parents be more involved in their students' education!

Thank you for staying tuned in on the work I'm doing for Cache Valley. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out. You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and X to stay up to date.

Jason Thompson
Representative, House District 3