Latest news with #SenateBill2241
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
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
North Dakota GOP executive director resigns to lobby for school choice
Andrew Nyhus speaks at a news conference at NDGOP headquarters on Dec. 20, 2023. (Amy Dalrymple/North Dakota Monitor) The executive director of the North Dakota Republican Party is resigning to become a lobbyist for a school choice organization. Andrew Nyhus said he has a contract with the American Federation for Children. Nyhus said school choice is a topic he has been passionate about but felt obligated to stay neutral in his role with the NDGOP. School choice, which can include private school vouchers, refers to programs that offer alternatives to students' assigned public school. Nyhus said the school choice issue 'has the most potential to be transformative for society, for the state.' Education Savings Accounts for all North Dakota students pass Senate The North Dakota Legislature is considering options for Education Saving Accounts. House Bill 1540 has a hearing Monday and Senate Bill 2400 has a hearing Tuesday. Senate Bill 2241 seeks to establish public charter schools. Nyhus, who lives in Fargo, said after the legislative session, he will look at what opportunities are available. GOP Chair Sandi Sanford said the party would begin looking for a new executive director in May. She added the party would be interested in having Nyhus come back, but that he needed a break after jumping into the role in December 2023 and serving through the 2024 election. 'I want what's best for him,' Sanford said. Nyhus said he enjoyed his role with the GOP, which dominates North Dakota politics. Nyhus and Sanford agreed that it was a good time for the party to look for a new executive director in a non-election year.
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
