A bill that would’ve cost South Dakota more than $109 million by giving all 14,741 nonpublic K-12 students the current per-student equivalent amount of $7,405.19 for their educational expenses was killed by the House Education Committee Monday.
House Bill 1250 was billed as creating “South Dakota educational empowerment accounts” by its sponsor, Rep. John Sjaarda, R-Valley Springs, but criticized by opponents for serving as a voucher program that would divert funds from public education.
Funds given to students by way of the bill would have covered tuition and fees for enrollment in a private school or online learning program, textbooks, curriculum, instructional materials and supplies, tutoring services, educational therapies, transportation to and from private school, technological devices, and registration fees for a nationally standardized achievement test, advanced placement exam or other test or exam related to postsecondary admission.
Sjaarda said as average reading and math scores remain low statewide, some people may think that “throwing more money” at public education would be a solution, but that his bill lets people decide where their money should go.