State House Approves Education Funding Formula Overhaul

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The state House has passed an overhaul of South Dakota's education funding formula to incorporate the half-cent sales tax increase recently approved by the Legislature for teacher pay.

Lawmakers voted 55-12 for the legislation Tuesday. Changes made in the House will be considered by the Senate, which approved a different version.

Gov. Dennis Daugaard's office says the new funding system would improve accountability over today's formula. The proposal would base the funding system on a target average teacher salary of $48,500 and target student-teacher ratios for schools.

Daugaard Chief of Staff Tony Venhuizen says the measure will make it easier to have public discussion about how school dollars are spent.

The House approved a proposal Monday aimed at improving school efficiency that's part of the package of education changes.

Source: State House Approves Education Funding Formula Overhaul