February26

Local control aspect removed in motto posting bill

Local control lost out in a legislative committee.   On a 10-2 vote, House State Affairs committee members approved an amended version of Senate Bill 55, which requires public schools to display the national motto of the United States – “In God We Trust” – in a prominent location in their buildings with, at minimum,

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February25

Senate sends K-12 levy bills to House

The K-12 education levy bills advanced in the legislature.   Senators passed Senate Bill 179, which revises the property tax levies for the general fund of school districts and for state aid, on a 33-1 vote, and Senate Bill 182, which revises the special education property tax levy for school districts and the special education

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February25

House’s version of Partridge Amendment adjustment passed

It took two votes, but a second bill aiming to lower the state’s sales tax rate, albeit in a different manner, made its way across the Capitol hall.   Representatives passed House Bill 1265, which provides a mechanism to lower the sales tax rate if revenue collection provisions are reached, on a 38-30 vote, not

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February24

Senate supports hoghoused civics survey bill

A hoghoused bill is set to survey schools for civics information.   Senate Bill 52, which requires schools to provide information for a survey of the adequacy of S.D. civics education, was hoghoused on the Senate floor and passed 30-0.   Sen. Jim Bolin, the bill’s prime sponsor, moved the hoghouse amendment on Senate Bill

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February24

Latest assessment bill passes first legislative test

The latest assessment bill passed its first legislative test.   Senate Bill 188, which revises certain provisions regarding state tests, passed the Senate on a 33-1 vote after being amended and passed by Senate Education committee members 4-0.   Sen. Jim Bolin called the bill a “redo” of Senate Bill 24, which did essentially the

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February23

Approps oust other rev. equalization repeal bill

Other revenue will remain on the equalization track.   House Appropriators voted 8-1 to defeat House Bill 1109, which repeals other revenue equalization.   Equalization of other revenue dollars collected by school districts from six different tax areas came in 2016 as part of the Blue Ribbon Task Force package that increased in teacher pay. A five-year step down period began this

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February23

Two-year averaging turned away by Approps

Two-year averaging was turned away by a legislative committee.   On an 8-1 vote, House Appropriations committee members defeated House Bill 1127, which includes two-year averaging in the fall enrollment calculation for state aid. The bill had been previously passed by the House Education committee, but was referred to Appropriations on the House floor.  

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February22

Scientific info instruction bill sent away in House

A bill permitting untethered instruction was reined in by the legislature.   House members defeated House Bill 1270, which protects teaching of certain scientific information, on a 21-46 vote. The bill had previously been passed by the House Education committee on an 8-6 vote.   ASBSD opposed the bill.   ASBSD Director of Policy and

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February22

Lowering compulsory age avoided by Reps

A bill lowering the required age for a student to stay in school did not stay in favor in the legislature.   On a 27-40 vote, Representatives defeated House Bill 1232, which lowers the compulsory age for school attendance to 16. The bill had previously passed the House Education committee on an 8-6 vote.  

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February21

Reps resist participation policy bill

An activities association policy pertaining to policy will remain in place.   Members of the House of Representatives ended in a stalemate of 34-34 on House Bill 1225, which requires student gender be determined by what is stated on the student’s birth certificate, resulting in the defeat of the bill.   “This is all about

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