JANUARY 8, 2025:
Following Gov. Noem’s call in the 2025 budget address for an appropriation to fund parental choice in education in South Dakota, House Majority Leader Scott Odenbach (District 31, Spearfish) and Senate Majority Leader Jim Mehlhaff (District 24, Pierre) pre-filed HB 1020 (Jan. 8, 2025) to make Education Savings Accounts available to South Dakota parents starting in the 2026-27 school year. After working closely over the past few months with the Governor’s office to craft the bill, each will be the prime sponsor of the measure in their respective chamber. The bill funds 40% of the per student equivalent amount spent by the state, or approximately $3,000, to use for private or microschool tuition, alternative education (homeschool) curricular materials, higher education entrance exam fees, or virtual learning coursework not otherwise offered by their district.
“This proposal fulfills the vision of parents as the first and primary educators of their children and extends a lifeline to those students who lack access to schools that meet their needs,” said Secretary of Education Joseph Graves. “Education savings accounts unleash the positive, powerful forces of competition in the educational marketplace.”
Parents will notify the DOE of their intent to participate, and once an application is approved, the money may then be directed by the parents to those items pre-approved by the DOE as set forth in the law. The initial funding amount requested by the Governor is $4 million. The bill contains certain requirements that apply in giving priority for the ESA’s, with the eventual goal of full eligibility depending on legislative funding.
“This program will provide an opportunity for all parents to have agency in the education of their children, regardless of their financial means,” said Sen. Mehlhaff.
According to Rep. Odenbach, “Whether your issue is the future of our kids, or sky-high property taxes, reforming education in South Dakota is the way forward.”
Odenbach continued, “The South Dakota Constitution directs the legislature ‘to adopt all suitable means to secure to the people the advantages and opportunities of education.’ (Art. 8, Sec. 1). This bill does that, and brings South Dakota’s expensive education model out of the 1800s and into the 21st Century. Since over 60% of your property tax dollars are spent on the public schools, encouraging the system to evolve, streamline and decentralize provides the only real path forward for long-term property tax relief. It’s also just the right thing to do for the thousands of taxpayers who want alternative education options for their children.”
DECEMBER 13, 2024:
Prior to this month’s regular meeting (Dec. 9, 2024), Pierre School Board members and the three lawmakers from District 24 met to talk about education related issues that may come up during the 2025 legislative session.
When she gave her fiscal year 2026 budget recommendations earlier this month (Dec. 3, 2024), South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem proposed the creation of Education Savings Accounts for K-12 students. She said the initial investment of $3000 per qualifying student– or approximately $4 million– could be used to pay for a portion of a student’s private school tuition or home schooling.
Representative Mike Weisgram from Fort Pierre isn’t sure what the actual ESA program would look like.
With millions of dollars in recommended spending cuts in the budget, Representative Will Mortenson of Fort Pierre doesn’t like the idea of starting a new, government funded program.
Senator Jim Mehlhaff of Pierre isn’t as concerned about ESAs as his two counterparts are.
South Dakota’s 100th Legislative Session begins Jan. 14, 2025.
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