North Dakota advances bill to help parents with private school costs
$10M in ND funds would be allocated to parents for private school tuition assistance
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Two weeks after the North Dakota House failed to pass a measure that would have provided free lunch to low-income students in public schools, the state Senate has passed a bill that would give qualifying parents private school tuition assistance.
Under the bill passed Tuesday, $10 million in state funds would be allocated to parents for private school tuition assistance. A family of four with a household income of $150,000 or less would qualify for assistance.
Parents would receive around $3,200 for each child sent to a private school of their choice, said Republican Sen. Donald Schaible, of Mott, while carrying the bill on the Senate floor.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Supporters of the proposal said they wanted to help parents make choices to connect their kids with schools that meet their unique needs — regardless of where they live, their financial status or special needs status. Opponents criticized it, saying public dollars should be used for public schools, and rural children would be at a disadvantage.
NORTH DAKOTA GOVERNMENT VETO STANDS, BLOCKING BILL THAT WOULD PROHIBIT PRONOUN USE IN THE CLASSROOM
The North Dakota Capitol tower rises in the background behind a stone sign, April 19, 2012, in Bismarck, North Dakota.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"The city in which I live is 50 miles from the nearest private school," said Republican Sen. David Rust, of Tioga. "There may be choice for those in a large city, but there really is no choice for those in a rural area, as there is no access."
The bill's passage comes after House lawmakers failed to pass a bill that would have allocated $6 million in state funds to children in public schools for meal assistance.
The failed bill would have given kids free lunch if their household income was at or below 200% of the federal poverty line — or $60,000 or less for a family of four.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Senate lawmakers passed the private school bill with a 27-19 vote Tuesday. The bill still needs final approval from the House and governor to become law.
School choice legislation has become more popular in recent years. At least a dozen other states have considered similar legislation in what has emerged as a landmark year for school choice battles. Those states include Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oregon, South Carolina and Texas.