BISMARCK, N.D. (KFGO) – North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum has vetoed a bill that would have offset tuition costs for students attending nonpublic K-12 schools in the state.
House Bill 1532 appropriates $10 million in state–collected tax dollars to be paid directly to private schools for the purpose of offsetting tuition costs for students whose families’ income is at or under 500% of the federal poverty level to attend private elementary and high schools.
The bill did not pass with veto-proof majorities in either body of the legislature. The Senate passed the bill on a vote of 27-19. The House vote was 51-41.
In a letter accompanying his veto, Burgum said HB 1532, “falls short of meaningfully enhancing school choice – especially in rural areas far from any existing nonpublic schools – and lacks incentives to expand nontraditional options in K–12 education. The bill also lacks public transparency and accountability standards for the actual use of the proposed tuition offset payments.”
Burgum said he supports school choice and believes that competition can improve outcomes in the K–12 education system but that HB 1532 doesn’t go far enough to promote those things.
“By utilizing the upcoming interim to explore best practices through school choice, competition and innovation in education, we can create a more comprehensive policy that empowers parent choice, improves outcomes for students and provides a greater return on investment of taxpayer dollars,” Burgum said.