Bill Could Make Private School Tuition More Affordable - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

A Bismarck legislator who has sent his kids to non-public schools is proposing a bill to send state dollars to private schools as a way to make private tuition more affordable.

Under the bill, school districts would contract with non-public schools for the educational services they provide to students.

The money would come from the state's general fund.

Representative Mark Dosch says the bill is expected to cost $32 million but he says it will pay for it's self.

One hundred percent of a students' public education is paid for through property taxes.

If passed, the state would pay 25% of a student's education in a private school.

<<(Rep. Mark Dosch / (R) Bismarck) "Allowing this option will help ensure the best educational environment for that child, whether it is public or non public and at the same time allow for education choice, saving the school district money, property tax owners money and the state of ND money."

(Morgan Forness / Supt. Shiloh Christian Schools) "Parents of private school students pay taxes that pay for public education but reap very few benefits personally. Yet these private schools provide tremendous resources and rich learning environments to many communities ultimate saving school funding.">>

There are 6,200 students going to private schools in North Dakota.

While the concept is new to this state, it is modeled after legislation in other states.

The bill does not apply to home schooling.