South Dakota lawmakers have rejected a proposal to allow charter schools in the state. The bill failed on a tied vote in the Senate Thursday and again Friday during a reconsideration attempt.
A recent state Supreme Court ruling confirmed that Lt. Governor Tony Venhuizen has the authority to break Senate ties when he’s presiding. But he declined to cast a deciding vote, leaving the bill short of the support it needed. The Senate has been operating with the possibility of ties all session because Sioux Falls Senator Arch Beal has been absent for health reasons.
Charter schools are privately run but publicly funded, operating independently from local school districts. Most states already allow them. Supporters argued the schools would expand educational options for students with specialized needs. Opponents warned they could divert money from public schools, which already face ongoing funding challenges.
Some lawmakers also raised concerns about accountability, since charter school boards wouldn’t be elected, and about a provision allowing a portion of teachers to be uncertified.
The debate comes as South Dakota joins a federal program allowing residents to redirect part of their federal tax bill to scholarship‑granting organizations. The state also continues its own tax‑credit scholarship program for lower‑income students attending private schools.
