Rhoden signs bills related to education

South Dakota Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden signed four bills Wednesday that reduce education funding in some areas and increase it in others.
The cuts are in HB 1040, which reduces the state subsidy for high-schoolers taking dual enrollment courses for college credit, and HB 1039, which bars new enrollments in a program that pays teachers and school counselors a stipend for becoming nationally board certified. Both measures were among numerous budget-cutting ideas considered by lawmakers during the legislative session.
The dual enrollment cut will shift the cost-share for the program to a 50-50 split with students. Currently, the state pays two-thirds of the $150 per credit-hour cost, which is a reduced rate compared to regular university tuition. Students and families currently pay about $50 per credit hour. They’ll experience a price hike to $75 per credit hour, saving the state — and costing families — about $1.2 million annually.
The teacher certification measure will continue to aid teachers already in the program, but will end new enrollments. The program pays up to a $2,000 stipend annually.
The bills adding money for education are HB 1114, which appropriates $4 million for the state’s technical colleges to purchase equipment, and SB 70, which increases sparsity payments to local school districts. Schools that have costs associated with an especially large and sparsely populated district will be able to receive extra state funding payments up to $137,000 per year, instead of the prior cap of $110,000.
Rhoden has signed 146 bills and vetoed one from the legislative session so far, which is over except for a day on March 31 for the Legislature to consider his vetoes.
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