Education & Schools — Kara Toone for Utah

Her Experience

Education isn't Kara's talking point. It's her daily work.

As Executive Director of Davis Education Foundation, Kara Toone works every day alongside educators, families, administrators, and community partners to strengthen public education across Davis County. She doesn't just talk about schools — she is in the trenches, navigating the real complexities of budgets, staffing, enrollment shifts, and the evolving needs of students and families.

A ground-level understanding of how state policy decisions impact real classrooms, real teachers, and real families.

The Davis Education Foundation serves the Davis School District, one of the largest school districts in Utah, supporting approximately 67,000 students across dozens of schools. Kara has seen firsthand what works and what doesn't — from the challenges of recruiting qualified teachers to the difficult conversations about how to allocate limited resources across growing communities.

Her role has given her a unique perspective that most legislators simply do not have: a ground-level understanding of how state policy decisions impact real classrooms, real teachers, and real families. She brings that expertise — and that accountability — to every conversation about education.

The Challenge

Education funding in Utah is at a crossroads.

Utah has a unique education funding structure. The state constitution earmarks income tax revenue for public education, higher education, and related services. This has historically provided a dedicated funding stream for schools — but it has also become the center of an ongoing debate about tax restructuring and revenue flexibility.

Will our schools have the funding they need, year after year?

In recent years, proposals have surfaced to change how income tax revenue is allocated, raising real concerns among educators, parents, and school administrators about the future reliability of education funding. When the legislature discusses broadening how income tax dollars can be spent, it inevitably raises a question that matters to every family in District 14: Will our schools have the funding they need, year after year?

Kara believes that any changes to Utah's tax structure must come with ironclad guarantees of reliable, predictable funding for public education. Students and teachers cannot plan their futures around uncertainty. Budgets cannot be built on shifting sand. Whatever the legislature decides, education funding must remain stable, transparent, and sufficient.

This isn't an abstract policy question for Kara — it's the reality she navigates every day at the Davis Education Foundation, where budget uncertainty directly impacts classrooms, programs, and the students who depend on them.

What She Brings

The knowledge and relationships to get things done.

Most legislators learn about education policy from briefings and lobbyists. Kara has lived it. She brings a rare combination of hands-on experience, policy expertise, and deep community relationships.

Direct understanding of school district budgets and operations — Kara works with budget documents, enrollment projections, and operational challenges every day. She knows where the money goes, where it falls short, and what it takes to run a school district effectively.
Relationships with educators, administrators, and families across Davis County — From principals to parent-teacher groups, from superintendents to school lunch staff, Kara has built trust across every level of the education system.
Master's in Public Policy from the University of Utah — Kara's graduate training gives her the analytical tools to evaluate policy proposals, read fiscal impact statements, and craft legislation that actually achieves its goals.
Years of experience bridging the gap between communities and schools — The Davis Education Foundation exists to connect community resources with student needs. Kara has spent years building those bridges, and she knows how to bring people together around shared priorities.

Executive Director, Davis Education Foundation Master's in Public Policy, University of Utah ~67,000 Students Served Davis School District Partner Community Education Advocate Lifelong Davis County Resident

"Every child who walks into a classroom in Davis County deserves to know that their school has the resources, the teachers, and the support to help them succeed. That's not a partisan issue — it's a promise we make to every family in this community. I've spent my career working to keep that promise, and I'll bring that same commitment to the legislature."

— Kara Toone

Her Platform

Kara's education platform — built from experience.

These aren't campaign slogans. They're priorities shaped by years of working inside the education system, informed by the educators, parents, and students Kara serves every day.

Funding & Accountability

Ensure reliable, predictable funding for public education — Protect the constitutional earmark for education and oppose any restructuring that introduces uncertainty into school budgets. Schools need to plan with confidence, not brace for annual funding battles.
Hold all taxpayer-supported education programs to equal transparency and accountability standards — Whether public, charter, or any other model receiving taxpayer dollars, every program should meet the same standards of financial reporting, academic accountability, and public transparency. Parents and taxpayers deserve to know how their money is being spent.
Ensure state programs demonstrate measurable outcomes — Education spending should be tied to results. Programs that work should be expanded; programs that don't should be reformed or replaced. Data-driven decision-making protects students and taxpayers alike.

Teachers, Students & Families

Support teacher recruitment and retention with competitive compensation — Utah consistently ranks near the bottom nationally in per-pupil spending and teacher pay. Attracting and keeping great teachers requires competitive salaries, strong benefits, and professional respect. Kara has seen the impact of teacher shortages firsthand.
Address enrollment shifts and school capacity needs — Davis County is growing, and that growth doesn't happen evenly. Some schools are bursting at the seams while others see declining enrollment. The state must support districts in managing these shifts with flexibility and adequate capital funding.
Strengthen career and technical education pathways — Not every student is headed to a four-year university, and that's a good thing. Robust CTE programs connect students with high-demand careers in trades, technology, healthcare, and manufacturing. These pathways deserve equal investment and respect.
Protect parental rights and family involvement in education — Parents are the first and most important educators in a child's life. Kara supports policies that keep parents informed, involved, and empowered in their children's education — from curriculum transparency to school governance.
Support safe, inclusive school environments — Every student should feel safe and welcome in their school. That means adequate counseling resources, anti-bullying programs, school safety infrastructure, and a culture of respect in every building.

~67,000

Students in Davis School District — Utah's 2nd largest

103

Schools Across the District

7,354

Educators & Staff (2024–25)

The Data

Utah's education funding crisis is real.

Per-Pupil Spending: Dead Last

Utah spends $9,552 per student — the lowest in the nation. The national average is $15,633. That means Utah invests $6,081 less per child than the average state. Source: U.S. Department of Education / Utah Foundation, FY 2022
The WPU is just $4,443 per student (2024–25) — the Weighted Pupil Unit is the foundation of Utah's funding formula. Lawmakers increased it 5% in 2024, but it remains a fraction of what students in other states receive. Source: Utah Legislature Budget Office, 2024
Utah's education funding effort dropped from 5th to 38th nationally — in 1995, Utah ranked 5th in the nation for education funding effort relative to state wealth. By 2022, that ranking had plummeted to 38th. Source: Voices for Utah Children / Education Law Center, 2025
Voucher recipients get $8,000 — nearly double the WPU — when a student leaves public school using a voucher, the school loses its $4,443 WPU funding. But the state gives each voucher recipient $8,000. The math doesn't add up for public schools. Source: Voices for Utah Children, 2024–25

Davis School District: The Scale of the Challenge

~67,000 students across 103 schools — Davis School District is the 2nd largest in Utah and the 61st largest in the entire United States. Kara serves this district every single day as Executive Director of Davis Education Foundation. Source: NCES / Davis School District, 2024–25
7,354 staff members depend on reliable, predictable funding to do their jobs. Teacher recruitment and retention are directly tied to competitive compensation — and Utah consistently ranks near the bottom. Source: NCES, 2024–25
Utah's public education budget has nearly doubled since 2014 — from $3.8 billion to $7.7 billion in FY 2024. But with explosive enrollment growth, per-pupil gains have been modest. Source: Utah Legislature / Voices for Utah Children
Davis Education Foundation fills the gaps — founded in 1982, the Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing scholarships, classroom grants, mentorship, and career readiness programs that fall outside traditional district budgets. Source: Davis Education Foundation

Why Kara is the right voice: Most legislators learn about education from lobbyists and briefings. Kara manages education budgets, works directly with teachers and families, and sees the impact of funding decisions in real classrooms every day. She holds a Master's in Public Policy from the University of Utah. She doesn't just talk about education — she lives it. That's the difference.

Davis Education Foundation

Strengthening schools, one community partnership at a time.

The Davis Education Foundation is the bridge between the community and the classroom. Under Kara's leadership, the Foundation has become a vital partner in ensuring that every student in Davis School District has the resources and opportunities they need to succeed.

The Foundation works with businesses, civic organizations, families, and individual donors to fund programs and initiatives that fall outside the scope of traditional district budgets. From scholarships and classroom grants to mentorship programs and career readiness initiatives, the Foundation fills critical gaps and amplifies the impact of every education dollar.

Kara has led the Foundation through periods of growth and challenge alike. She has built partnerships with local businesses, managed complex fundraising campaigns, navigated the operational demands of serving one of Utah's largest school districts, and ensured that every dollar raised goes directly to supporting students and educators.

Her work at the Foundation has given her a depth of understanding that no briefing book can replicate. She knows the real cost of running a school. She knows what teachers need. She knows the difference between a policy that sounds good on paper and one that actually works in a classroom. That experience is exactly what the Utah Legislature needs.

Kara speaking at her campaign kickoff event

"I've spent years working inside the education system — not from the outside looking in, but from the inside, standing alongside teachers, parents, and students. I know what works, I know what's broken, and I know how to fix it. That's what I'll bring to the legislature: real knowledge, real relationships, and a real commitment to every student in our community."

— Kara Toone

Strong Schools &
Support for Families

Education isn't Kara's talking point. It's her daily work.

Education funding in Utah is at a crossroads.

The knowledge and relationships to get things done.