South Dakota education lobby shut out of 'school choice' talks

State Department of Education, legislative architects maintain Noem initiative 'educational marketplace' boon

The South Dakota Department of Education is defending Gov. Kristi Noem’s push to subsidize private alternative education, insisting the creation of education savings accounts (ESAs) won’t hurt public schools.

But wary public educators and their representatives at the state Capitol are harboring skepticism, which they say is fueled by them being shut out of talks with architects of the $4 million proposal to fund private and homeschool costs.

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