Local schools get $780K in trust funds

The School and Institutional Trust Funds Office announced that the Trust Lands Permanent Funds will distribute a record-breaking $134 million to public schools for the 2026-27 school year, marking a 20 percent increase from last year’s distribution of $111 million.
For San Juan School District, School Land Trust funding will be $780,900, an increase of $128,700 from last year. 
These funds support academic intervention and innovation, help reduce class sizes, expand access to technology, and enhance professional development. 
“Utah’s School Land Trust program is especially important for rural schools,” said Representative Logan Monson. “Having served on two different school community councils, I’ve seen firsthand how local control allows schools to tailor these funds to their specific needs.
“In San Juan County, parents, teachers, and principals work together to make practical, common-sense decisions that reflect the realities of rural schools and directly support student success.” 
The increase reflects strong financial performance from trust land management and the Permanent School Fund investment portfolio, along with the first-year impact of Amendment B, a voter-approved measure that raised the annual distribution cap from four to five percent.
Without Amendment B, schools would have received about $118 million for the 2026–27 school year rather than $134 million.
Schools will be notified of their School Land Trust Fund allocations for the 2026–27 school year this week, giving administrators and school community councils a first look at their forthcoming grant. Allocations are made to public schools in the state based on a per-pupil formula.
School Land Trust funds supplement, rather than replace, traditional school funding sources and provide flexibility for local decisions, recognizing the needs of one school may differ from another.
“Utah students benefit from a trust system that delivers strong results and protects both current and future beneficiaries,” said Treasurer Marlo Oaks, who chairs the Board.
“Careful land management and prudent investment decisions strengthen schools today and preserve the fund for generations to come.”
School trust funds are generated from trust lands granted at statehood to support public education and other state institutions.
Revenue from leases, sales, and development is deposited into the Permanent Funds and invested to provide ongoing support. 
In addition to public schools, trust beneficiaries, including higher education and other designated state institutions, also receive increased distributions through their respective permanent funds. Since 1994, the combined permanent funds have grown from $50 million to $4.1 billion.
“This marks a significant milestone for Utah’s Trust System and the growing impact on all trust beneficiaries,” said Kim Christy, Director of the Land Trusts Protection and Advocacy Office. “The Trust Lands Administration does great things to uphold trust principles and sustain maximum performance.”