ND lawmakers examine tax credit plan for private students

A Senate committee is considering a bill that would give parents who send their children to non-public schools, or home-school, a tax credit.  It would be $500 per child.  That bill – HB 1281 – has already passed the House on a 50 to 44 vote.

Grand Forks Superintendent Terry Brenner told lawmakers the bill will divert approximately $6 million dollars of North Dakota public funds into private, non-public schools or home schools.  Brenner says that along with flat per pupil payments sends the wrong message to public schools.

“During the 2017-19 biennia, Grand Forks Public Schools experienced a flat per pupil payment. Should the legislature repeat that formula for the 2021-23 school years, and approve HB 1281, our district will be left with no choice other than to increase class size, reduce the number of teaching and support staff and course offerings, and delay every expenditure “non-instructional” related during the foreseeable future.”

North Dakota United president Nick Archuleta told the Committee it is nothing more than a voucher program – and it will divert money away from public schools.

The committee did not take immediate action.