Latest news with #Axtman
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
North Dakota Senate passes Education Savings Accounts for private school students
Sen. Michelle Axtman, R-Bismarck, speaks on the Senate floor on April 17, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor) The North Dakota Senate approved a bill Thursday establishing Education Savings Accounts for private school students, but details are likely to be worked out by a conference committee. The Senate voted 27-20 in favor of an amended version of House Bill 1540, which would provide vouchers for families to use for private school tuition or other qualifying education expenses. The accounts would not be available to public school or homeschooled students. The amount each family could receive varies based on household income. Students from families in the lowest income category could receive about $4,000 per year, while students from the highest income category could receive a little over $1,000 per year. Families with high incomes would qualify for vouchers in the version of the bill senators advanced. A previous version of the bill limited the vouchers to families who fall within 400% of the federal poverty level, which is an annual income of $128,600 for a family of four. The Education Saving Accounts would be available for students for the 2026-27 school year. Sen. Michelle Axtman, R-Bismarck, who introduced the amendment, estimated the program would cost about $20 million per school year. The exact cost to the state would depend on how many students use the accounts. Bills look to expand North Dakota student opportunities through savings accounts Sen. Mike Wobbema, R-Valley City, was among those who spoke in favor of Education Savings Accounts. 'We need to recognize that taxpayer funds need to be prioritized for use in educating taxpayers' children,' Wobbema said. He argued that Education Savings Accounts could save the state money over time, if public school students switch to private schools, reducing how much the state spends on per-pupil payments to public schools. Sen. Janne Myrdal, R-Edinburg, voted against the bill. She said there are no private schools in her district, so the bill wouldn't be used by her constituents. 'If we're going to do school choice, it's got to be for all kids,' Myrdal said. 'I can't in true conscience stand here today to vote for a vehicle that doesn't give any power to the parents in my district.' Axtman is the chief sponsor of a competing Education Savings Account bill, Senate Bill 2400, which is still under consideration by the House Education Committee. The key difference in that bill is dollars could be used for educational expenses for public school or homeschooled students in addition to private school students. Axtman voted in favor of the Senate version, but said she's still hopeful for a more universal policy. 'My goal is still a very comprehensive ESA that affects, truly, all students in North Dakota,' she said. North Dakota United, a union representing educators and public sector employees, is among those who oppose the Education Savings Account bills. 'This bill, 1540, is all about private schools, just public money given right to the private schools,' said Nick Archuleta, president of North Dakota United. The bill is expected to head to a conference committee made up of three lawmakers from each legislative chamber. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
House passes bill authorizing charter schools in North Dakota
State Sen. Michelle Axtman, R-Bismarck, speaks on the House Floor during a meeting of the Legislative Management Committee on Nov. 13, 2024. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor) A bill to establish public charter schools in North Dakota passed the House on a 64-29 vote Tuesday. Senate Bill 2241 would allow the establishment of public charter schools in North Dakota. These schools would be under the same regulations as public schools, but operate outside the school district and be administered by their own internal governing boards, once established. 'It's so exciting to think about the potential of what this could do in North Dakota,' said Sen. Michelle Axtman, R-Bismarck, chief sponsor of the bill. The charter schools would not be able to charge tuition or teach religious curriculum. The schools would need to come to a performance agreement with the Department of Public Instruction and meet or exceed academic and graduation benchmarks set by the department. The schools would receive state funding, about $8,160 per student for 2024-25, and could receive federal grants or donations. Charter schools would not be allowed to use the state's school building fund. Rep. Larry Klemin, R-Bismarck, voted against the bill and raised concerns that the per pupil payments to charter schools could be used for its construction and building maintenance. 'In a sense, we're going to be supporting public schools and charter schools through the payment of our taxes,' Klemin said. Others said it would divert money from public schools and create funding problems around the state, especially in rural areas with fewer students. 'We have one pie and the state slices that pie for the different programs,' said Rep. Donald Longmuir, R-Stanley. 'And if they slice a piece of that pie away to public charters, that takes away from the public schools.' He added no one from his district has sent him any messages that they need a public charter school. Longmuir voted against the bill. Axtman said she thinks rural communities could benefit from public charter schools because some rural schools at risk of closing could reorganize as a public charter. She also stressed that charter schools will only go to communities that want them. 'If a rural community doesn't have the support or the need for a charter school, it simply won't open there,' Axtman said. The overall fiscal impact of the bill is unclear. If students from traditional public K-12 schools switch to charter schools, the state would spend less to educate those students in per pupil payments. However, if private school or homeschool students begin attending public charter schools, the cost to the state would increase. Senate Bill 2241 was approved by the Senate in February on a 40-7 vote. The bill will now travel back to the Senate to concur with the House's amended bill. If approved, it will go to the governor's desk for his signature. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Education Savings Accounts for all North Dakota students pass Senate
Sen. Michelle Axtman, R-Bismarck, speaks on the Senate floor about Education Savings Accounts on Feb. 21, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor) A bill to provide Education Savings Accounts for all North Dakota students narrowly cleared the Senate Friday on a 25-22 vote. The bill will advance to the House of Representatives for its consideration. Senate Bill 2400, sponsored by Sen. Michelle Axtman, R-Bismarck, would provide every North Dakota student with $500 to use toward educational expenses such as private school tuition, tutoring, text books, school meals, mental health services and educational camps, among others. Private school students who meet household income limitations could be eligible for up to $3,500. Homeschool students would each receive $500 in their accounts. 'I'm ecstatic,' Axtman said in an interview after the floor session. 'This bill provides an opportunity for every student and I'm excited to let parents know. I'm excited to let the schools know. I'm excited to let kids know that this is coming their way.' Lawmakers opposing the measure on the Senate floor said the bill is not a 'school choice' bill because it provides additional funding for all students. 'I haven't had public schools express support for this,' said Sen. Michael Dwyer, R-Bismarck. 'I haven't had private schools express support for this. Homeschoolers don't seem to want it. And the taxpayers don't seem to want it.' He added the state already spends more than $11,000 for public school students in per pupil payments. Opponents have raised concerns about rural areas lacking private school options that larger cities have. Axtman said the bill would give rural students options as well. 'Choice looks different wherever you live,' Axtman said. She added public school students could take a dual-credit course, or an accredited French class, while private school student families would have additional funds available for tuition, if they choose. Public charter schools get strong support from North Dakota Senate The Senate Appropriations Committee decreased the amount every student would receive in their accounts by $500 from what was in the original bill. Committee member Sen. Donald Schaible, R-Mott, said members reduced the amount because the original proposal had an estimated annual price tag of more than $100 million. He also said lawmakers don't know how many students would actually use the accounts and they felt it would be better to start with a conservative approach. The program is now expected to cost about $58.1 million per school year, according to the bill's fiscal note. However, the actual cost would depend on how many students access the funds. Axtman said she understands why the bill was amended, but plans to advocate for the accounts to be raised back up to $1,000 before it hits the House floor. She also suggested a possible cap for the program to alleviate concerns about the program's price tag. On Thursday, Axtman's bill establishing public charter schools in North Dakota cleared the Senate by a wide margin. That bill will also move across Memorial Hall to be considered by the House. North Dakota House advances 1 of 3 Education Savings Account bills House members previously approved House Bill 1540, another Education Savings Account bill. However, the bill was referred to House Appropriations, which gave the bill a 'do not pass' recommendation Thursday night. The bill will return to the House for another vote next week. A bill that would make school meals free for all North Dakota students received a 'do not pass' recommendation from the House Appropriations Committee on Thursday evening. That bill is expected to be voted on by the full House next week. The Together For School Meals coalition, a group of food security, nutrition and educational leaders, said members were deeply disappointed with the recommendation, according to a coalition news release. 'One in three children in North Dakota received food from the Great Plains Food Bank in 2023, underscoring the urgent need for systemic solutions to food insecurity,' said Michelle Wagner, a child nutrition program director for the North Dakota School Nutrition Association. If signed into law, Axtman's Education Savings Accounts bill would cover school meals as an authorized expense. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Public charter schools get strong support from North Dakota Senate
Sen. Michelle Axtman, R-Bismarck, speaks on the Senate floor during the organizational session on Dec. 4, 2024. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor) A bill authorizing public charter schools in North Dakota cleared the Senate Thursday on a 40-7 vote. It will now advance to the House of Representatives, which previously was split on a similar bill. Senate Bill 2241, sponsored by Sen. Michelle Axtman, R-Bismarck, received little pushback from lawmakers during floor debate. However, during the bill's public hearing, education and public school associations raised concerns about diverting teachers and resources away from traditional K-12 schools, which could significantly affect rural school districts. 'Senate Bill 2241 is not about replacing, or reducing, the importance of our traditional public schools,' Axtman said. 'It's about expanding opportunities for students and families who are looking for another alternative public school option.' She said, as part of their licensing agreement, charter schools would have to demonstrate that they have community support for their proposed locations. 'Without strong community support, a charter school simply will not open,' Axtman said. Sen. Larry Luick, R-Fairmount, said he struggled to find the difference between public schools and public charter schools. Axtman said there was very little difference. She added charter schools would have a specialized learning approach, they wouldn't be able to levy local tax dollars for infrastructure, and they would be governed by an internal school board, not by a public school board. Her bill would also prohibit charter schools from charging tuition or engaging in religious programming. It would also require the charter schools to meet or exceed public school academic and graduation benchmarks. Public charter schools would be prohibited from accessing the school building fund and instead need to rely on per-pupil state aid payments, donations and federal grants. Charter school bill narrowly fails in North Dakota House; Senate considers similar bill 'Improved student outcomes are the ultimate goal of our public education system and this bill provides another public school tool we can use to achieve this goal,' she said. A fiscal note attached to the bill could not determine the financial impact for the state of establishing charter schools. In a recent interview, Nick Archuleta, president of North Dakota United, a union representing teachers and public employees, said public schools are becoming more innovative by allowing more student schedule flexibility and incorporating career and technical education programs into their offerings. During the committee hearing, members of the North Dakota Council of Educational Leaders, North Dakota Small Organized Schools and North Dakota School Boards Association told lawmakers they opposed the bill because it could create additional workforce strain at a time when some school districts are already struggling to recruit and retain staff. Another public charter school bill, House Bill 1358, narrowly failed in the House chamber on Jan. 31. That bill would have allowed up to 27 public charter schools to be established by 2029. The proposal called for the new charter schools to receive the same per-pupil payment that other public K-12 schools receive. North Dakota House advances 1 of 3 Education Savings Account bills Axtman's bill does not provide a cap for the number of charter schools that can be established each year. Lawmakers also are considering other bills related to Education Savings Accounts, with a vote expected soon on Axtman's Senate Bill 2400. The House has approved House Bill 1540 that would use money from the state's general fund to help families pay for private school or private classes. As the bill passed the House, Rep. Pat Heinert, R-Bismarck, urged action because the Trump administration is expected to supply funding to the states for school choice. 'If we do not pass a bill … we will then have to adopt the federal government's guidelines,' Heinert said. 'We know we don't like their guidelines very much.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bills look to expand North Dakota student opportunities through savings accounts
From the left, Rep. Pat Heinert, R-Bismarck, Shane Goettle, Joy-Nicole Smith and Sen. Michelle Axtman, R-Bismarck, participate in a meeting of the North Dakota Educational Opportunities Task Force on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. The Legislature is considering several school choice proposals. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor) North Dakota lawmakers are weighing several proposals to establish Education Savings Accounts, but the eligibility, method of payment and amount students may receive differs. Supporters say they want to give families more options but opponents object to using public dollars to pay for private school tuition. Legislators have already demonstrated support for school choice, approving a bill in 2023 that would have provided $10 million in state funding to offset the cost of private school tuition for students who met income requirements. The bill was vetoed by then-Gov. Doug Burgum, who at the time said he supported the concept but didn't think the bill went far enough to promote competition or expand options in rural areas. He also called for more transparency and accountability. 'I can say confidently today that he (Burgum) was most definitely correct,' said Sen. Michelle Axtman, R-Bismarck, during a hearing last week. Axtman is the prime sponsor of Senate Bill 2400, which would provide a $1,000 Educational Savings Account for every student, whether they attend public or private school or are homeschooled. Students attending private schools could qualify for $2,500 or $4,000 per year if their households meet certain income thresholds. 'This bill isn't about one educational option over another,' Axtman said. 'This bill is about increasing educational opportunities for each and every North Dakota student.' The savings accounts can cover tuition, fees, textbooks, school meals, educational therapy and tutoring, among other educational items and services. Axtman added North Dakota would be the first state to cover student mental health services through the accounts. Participating private schools would have to meet accountability requirements. For example, students who pay for school with a voucher would need to participate in statewide tests, with school results presented to a legislative committee. The state superintendent of public instruction would administer and audit the program. A fiscal note estimating the cost of the program had not been prepared as of last week. Charter school bill narrowly fails in North Dakota House; Senate considers similar bill 'Unless this is going to happen for free, the money is going to have to come from somewhere, and those are public dollars,' said Nick Archuleta, president of North Dakota United, a union representing teachers and public sector employees. Rick Diegel, superintendent of Kidder County Public Schools, used basic math during his testimony in opposition to Axtman's bill and said the total for about 120,000 North Dakota students to receive at least $1,000 would bring the cost to about $120 million per school year. In an interview, Axtman acknowledged $120 million per year would be a conservative estimate. She added she doesn't expect every North Dakota student will use the entire amount in their savings account every year. Alexandre Fall, a senior associate with Pew Charitable Trusts who has studied school choice programs, said Education Savings Accounts have increased in popularity since 2020. The costs can be difficult to estimate because budget analysts don't know how many students will use the programs or transition from public to private education or homeschooling, he said. 'Once these programs become more popular, we'll have a better understanding of the cost mechanisms and the shifts in enrollment,' Fall said. 'But it's a very new policy and it is surrounded by a lot of uncertainty.' Archuleta said siphoning of tax dollars to fund something that isn't for a public purpose, like private school tuition, means less money for public education, roads or anything else providing a public good for the state. He said future Legislatures would need to continue funding the program, even in years with tight budgets. Armstrong's first budget proposal addresses prison crowding, invests in housing In Gov. Kelly Armstrong's budget proposal, he calls for a 2% annual increase to the K-12 funding formula, or an additional $60 million, which would bring total K-12 education spending to $3.12 billion for the 2025-27 biennium. 'We don't think it's enough,' Archuleta said. 'I think we can do better.' Armstrong's budget also included $44.3 million for Education Savings Accounts. Supporters of school choice, including Armstrong, have said the initiatives can be funded in addition to the traditional K-12 system. Page Forrest, a senior associate with Pew Charitable Trusts, said education systems across the country have faced budget crunches, in part due to the expiration of federal pandemic aid. 'If budgets continue to tighten across the country, that means it may feel like public schools and nonpublic alternatives are competing for an increasingly smaller piece of the pie, even if they are being funded as separate entities,' Forrest said. A separate proposal from Rep. Pat Heinert, R-Bismarck, takes a different approach. House Bill 1590 would establish what he calls education services accounts that would require matching dollars from families. Families can deposit up to $2,000 per child and the Bank of North Dakota would provide funds to match 50%. The dollars could be spent on private school tuition, dual-credit courses, vocational and technical courses, online courses and other approved programs. Students could use the money in the accounts to pay for school meals, tutoring, mental health counseling and special needs programs, higher education entrance exams, other educational materials and education-related camps. 'Every student in the state of North Dakota is eligible to participate at whatever dollar amount they are comfortable putting into an account,' Heinert said. 'The idea of a match is not acceptable to many, but I think it makes the program go farther.' Legislative Council estimates the program would cost $41.2 million. Heinert's bill is a pilot program that would run through the 2026-27 school year. 'We've got two years to look at this,' he said. 'We've never done this before in North Dakota. We've tried. We've never got it accomplished. It's time though.' Two similar proposals would provide state funding to be used toward private school tuition or homeschool expenses. Senate Bill 2303, sponsored by Sen. Mike Wobbema, R-Valley City, and House Bill 1540, sponsored by Rep. Ben Koppelman, R-West Fargo, would deposit 80% of the amount allocated to public school students, or more than $8,800, into an Education Savings Account. Another 20% would be transferred to the student's home public school district. The dollars could be used for education-related expenses, but the participating student must be counted in their home school district to provide accurate state aid payments. The proposals don't have any income requirements. The Bank of North Dakota would administer the accounts. The estimated cost for each bill is $243 million for 2025-2027 based on the current enrollment of private and homeschooled students. More 2025 legislative session coverage House Bill 1607, sponsored by Rep. Matthew Heilman, R-Bismarck, would provide state dollars for private school students. His proposal would provide the full per-pupil state aid payment, or about $11,000, for each student to be used on eligible education expenses. The families would receive the dollars on a debit card. The estimated cost is $179 million for 2025-2027. The proposal does not have income requirements. In all cases, the actual cost of the school choice programs would depend on how many people participate. No action has been taken on the proposals, which had public hearings last week. The Senate and House education committees are expected to discuss education savings accounts this week. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
