Mission

VISION

Productive school trusts providing for world-class schools.

MISSION

As guardians, educate and advocate on behalf of the beneficiaries for prudent and profitable management of the school trust lands and permanent funds to sustain each child’s birthright to the best possible education.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

To create advocates for educational opportunities for children from school trust lands by:

• Cultivating a network of western education communities,
• Sharing creative solutions to the management, investment and use of the trust corpus,
• Empowering beneficiaries to effectively support prudent management of school trusts.

AUTHORITY

CLASS is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 corporation organized under the laws of the State of Utah in 2000.

CORE VALUES/GUIDING PRINCIPLES

The following critical success factors are considered essential for success:

• The education of children comes first.
• Conduct business with honor and integrity.
• Frame all school land issues in terms of education.
• Find win-win solutions.
• Respect the unique characteristics of each trust, beneficiary, and state
• Build and foster long-term relationships

DESCRIPTION

CLASS is a non-profit corporation organized under the laws of the State of Utah in 2000. CLASS holds an annual conference to empower education communities and beneficiaries to support prudent management of the school trust lands and funds, train articulate advocates for school land issues, and share innovative ideas for enhancing educational opportunities for school children from the proceeds of the land and funds. The annual CLASS conference is held concurrent with the summer conference of the Western States Land Commissioners Association (WSLCA).

Representatives of the beneficiaries in the twenty invited states have participated in the alliance. Membership includes representatives of the State Offices of Education, Superintendent and Principal Associations, State Boards of Education, state affiliates of the National Education Association, Parent Teacher Associations, School Administrators, School Boards, Association, and other educational and non-profit groups.

CLASS provides support, education, outreach, and research on school trust lands. Legal education on fiduciary duty, charitable trusts, legal obligations of trustees, and beneficiary rights is an integral part of each annual meeting. Better communication with national education groups, national and regional legislative, executive and policy making groups on school trust land issues has been established.