Noem’s $4M ‘school choice’ pitch sets stage for capitol fight

Both sides in school choice debate want more details

Public funding for private education will be the premier battle between public education groups and South Dakota policymakers during the upcoming legislative session.

But a lack of detail about how an education savings account program would be administered leaves its future in question. Gov. Kristi Noem has announced plans for the program with a $4 million request from the Department of Education, but both the public education lobby and school choice proponents have questions.

“The right bill could get through this year,” said Jennifer Beving, deputy director of Americans for Prosperity-South Dakota, a center-right leaning advocacy group that’s pushed for K-12 alternatives to public education like homeschooling and state-funded tuition assistance for years.

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