North Dakota Governor Calls for Universal School Choice in Bold Budget Proposal

During his budget address on Dec. 4, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum put forward a proposal for universal school choice for families in his state.

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Burgum to lead the Department of the Interior and a new National Energy Council.

Burgum vetoed a private school choice bill last year, citing that it did not go far enough. He is now pushing for education savings accounts (ESAs) to allow families to utilize state funds for various education-related expenses, including private school tuition and homeschooling.

“This is not a debate between public and private education,” Burgum stated. “It is about ensuring that every student has the necessary resources to pursue a path to career, college, or military readiness. We propose the development of a program to advance ESAs and continue positioning North Dakota as a state that caters to all students—whether public, private, or homeschooled.”

Last year, a proposed “educational reimbursement program” was approved by both chambers of the state legislature but failed to gather the two-thirds supermajority needed to override Burgum’s veto.

North Dakota has historically lacked alternative options in its public education system, such as charter schools and private school vouchers. Supporters of parental choice in education view Burgum’s announcement as a significant win for families’ right to choose their preferred educators.

Legislators will need to consider the balance between parental control over education and concerns about funding and potential impacts on public schools, leading to a probable debate on the proposal.

In recent years, more states have implemented or expanded ESA programs, aligning with the nationwide trend towards school choice.

Private school choice encompasses various methods to enable funding to follow the student, including vouchers, ESAs, and tax-credit scholarships.

These methods are utilized to provide financial support to educational institutions that do not fall under the typical public school category. The concept of offering this choice to all families, regardless of income, has gained traction in recent times.

Twelve states have enacted universal school choice legislation, while nearly 30 states offer some form of private school choice.

In South Dakota, Gov. Kristi Noem, Trump’s nominee for the Department of Homeland Security secretary, proposed the establishment of a school choice program, announcing an initial $4 million investment in the project during her Dec. 3 state budget address.

“Quality education begins at home,” Noem emphasized. “Parents should have the ability to choose the best educational path for their children. I suggest the introduction of Education Savings Accounts for South Dakota students in the upcoming legislative session.”

Trump has expressed support for the concept, and former U.S. Education Department assistant secretary Jim Blew is optimistic about the new Congress approving proposals like tax credits for scholarships.

“The new members are all very clearly in favor of school choice, and I believe this will alter the landscape,” said Blew, co-founder of the conservative Defense of Freedom Institute.

According to Trump’s 2016 campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, the president-elect backs school choice and intends to advocate for the issue in the future.

While some states have rejected measures to expand state funding for private schools and provide specific school choice options, progress continues in other regions.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.