South Dakota

How much will school choice bill cost South Dakota? Committee delays vote to find out

Published

11 months ago

January 22, 2025

How much will school choice bill cost South Dakota? Committee delays vote to find out

The House Education Committee is delaying a vote on a school choice finance bill for one week so it can get a definitive answer on how much the proposal would cost the state.

House Bill 1009, which would create South Dakota educational empowerment accounts, was brought by five members of the 15-person committee: Republican Reps. Heather Baxter, Phil Jensen, Dylan Jordan, Logan Manhart and Kathy Rice.

Jordan, who opened his testimony on the bill by noting he’s not a teacher, was the prime sponsor and couldn’t answer questions from committee members about what exactly his bill would cost the state, and what it could cost the South Dakota Department of Education in staffing and audits.

He noted the DOE hasn’t supported the bill.

What’s in HB 1009?

HB 1009 as introduced would make educational empowerment accounts with funds that could be spent on tuition fees; fees for sports programs and fine arts programs; textbooks, curricula or other instructional materials and supplies; educational therapies; registration fees for nationally standardized achievement tests, advanced placement exams or other tests or exams related to postsecondary admission; transportation services between a student’s home and the private school, institution of higher education or location or program the student is enrolled in; or, technological devices, instruments and equipment necessary for educational pursuits.

To open an account, parents of students who will attend private school must file a request with the DOE that acknowledges their student can’t switch back into public school or into alternative instruction that school year.

Each account would give parents the per student equivalent amount, which is currently $7,405.19, in the form of a debit card.

More than 15,000 students are currently enrolled in the state’s private schools. If all 15,185 private school students were given $7,405.19, that would total more than $112 million for the new program.

When Rice asked if Jordan would support an amendment reducing the funding amount, Jordan said he wouldn’t, because “we’d be saying individual children are worth less than others, and I thought we were all created equal.”

The DOE would be responsible for creating a handbook for participants, publishing forms for withdrawing an alternative instruction notification, conducting random audits of the accounts and taking the request forms for the account.

Meanwhile, a similar bill, House Bill 1020, would create education savings accounts and appropriate about $4 million to cover $3,000 in ESAs for students in the state’s private schools or alternative instruction. Money could only be spent on tuition and fees to qualifying schools, curriculum and associated instructional materials or supplies, “educationally related technological devices and associated hardware and services,” and fees for any standardized college entrance exam approved by the DOE.

Gov. Kristi Noem proposed that bill in her budget address and has support from DOE Secretary Joe Graves. It also differs from HB 1009 in that it sets up a tiered system of eligibility based on household income.

Proponents support school choice, question expense

Besides Jordan, other proponents of HB 1009 who spoke Wednesday included lobbyists from Young Americans for Liberty, South Dakota Parents Involved in Education, Family Voice Action and Americans for Prosperity and six parents from either Colton, Spearfish, Salem or Rapid City who spoke about the success they or their children have had in private school or homeschool.

Jordan began proponent testimony by thanking President Donald Trump for “calling for school choice nationally.” He said COVID-19 opened people’s eyes on the modern education system and showed “one-size-fits-all education policy” doesn’t work for everyone. Jordan added that “leftist, LGBTQIA2S+ communities and the ‘woke agenda’” have made its way into the public school system.

The proponents jointly spoke about the benefits of school choice and empowering parents to make that choice, how homeschooling can get expensive, and how the program could bring a “marketplace of ideas” to education in a new way.

However, lobbyists from Parents Involved in Education and Americans for Prosperity, along with a homeschooling father from Salem, cautioned about the expense of the bill and suggested reducing vouchers to the $3,000 Noem proposed. They questioned whether it would pass through the Capitol chambers and committees at such a large expense.

Opponents prefer financial support go to public education, not private

Opponents of HB 1009 who spoke Wednesday included lobbyists with Disability Rights South Dakota, Associated School Boards of South Dakota, School Administrators of South Dakota, South Dakota Education Association, the Sioux Falls and Rapid City School Districts, Large School Group, Bureau of Finance and Management, South Dakota United School Association and South Dakota Retailers Association.

They largely argued that the bill divests and diverts significant taxpayer dollars from public education into private schools that don’t follow the same accountability and equity rules that public schools follow. They said this year schools will have a much more lean budget, so it would be “irresponsible” to stand up a new program at such a time.

A lobbyist from Bureau of Finance and Management said Noem supports school choice, but believes the bill could cost South Dakota $157 million. and therefore asked the committee to oppose the bill.

Some of the education lobbyists also said the bill is “clunky” and questioned what unforeseen expenses families may use the debit cards to pay for with little accountability or oversight.

Ultimately, the vote to delay a vote on the bill for one week to Jan. 29 until a fiscal note is prepared by the Legislative Research Council passed with nine in favor, five dissenting and one member excused.

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South Dakota

28 SD school districts to receive literacy grant

Published

4 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

28 SD school districts to receive literacy grant

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Nearly 30 school districts in the state of South Dakota will receive the Elevating Literacy Across South Dakota (ELA-SD) grant from the South Dakota Department of Education. The purpose of the ELA-SD grants is to help create a comprehensive program to advance literary and pre-literary skills, reading and writing for […]

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South Dakota

Rep. Dusty Johnson backs Senator Rounds push for investigation into mail service in South Dakota

Published

16 hours ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

Rep. Dusty Johnson backs Senator Rounds push for investigation into mail service in South Dakota

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) -Congressman Dusty Johnson is backing Senator Mike Round’s push for an investigation in postal service delays in South Dakota.

Johnson took to social media saying Senator Mike Rounds was right to ask for an investigation into postal service delays in South Dakota. Rounds had previously sent a letter to the postal service’s inspector general asking for her to find the cause of mail delays in South Dakota. Rounds said in his letter he has heard from hundreds of constituents across South Dakota. Johnson opened up with KOTA Territory News about his support for the investigation.

“I think the postal service is a terrible disaster,” said Johnson.

Johnson noted that in the past the service did what he said was a pretty good job. Johnson says despite sending letters and making phone calls with the postal service, he has not gotten any answers.

“I have asked if I can come down to one of their facilities, get a tour so I can better understand what’s going on behind the walls. They have refused to even let me, a member of congress, come learn about how they conduct their business. And so, this appears to be an enterprise that A, is not improving, B, isn’t communicating why there, why there failing and C doesn’t even appear to be particularly interested in getting better,” explained Johnson.

Rounds has pointed to the problem as being that mail traveling across or into South Dakota taking indirect routes. Rounds previously took a meeting with the postmaster general however the senator appears not satisfied with the outcome.

Rounds wrote in part in his letter, “I expressed my concerns about this to the Postmaster General (PMG) Steiner who downplayed such issue existed in South Dakota.”

In a letter sent to Rounds in October, Postmaster General David Steiner said that fixing issues at central region plants in Chicago, St Louis and Kansas City will likely improve outcomes and that at the time it was something the USPS was actively working on. The postmaster general acknowledged poor performance for first class mail at the beginning of the year and mid-summer but noted that it has since improved. During the week ending September 19th for South Dakota’s postal district, about %93 percent of first-class mail was delivered on time and roughly %97 percent was delivered within one day of its expected arrival. The postmaster general said he wanted to focus on the %3 percent that’s not getting to its destination on time.

“It may be only a small percentage of the mail, but because we deliver hundreds of millions of pieces each day nationally, the raw number is large,” wrote Steiner.

Steiner emphasized that some mail in South Dakota has always left the state for processing before going to another part of the state. The postmaster general explained that some mail requires certain sorting equipment and therefor some mail travels to plants with the right equipment.

The postmaster general also maintained in his letter that mail going to and from the same area in South Dakota is not leaving the state.

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South Dakota

Best steakhouse in South Dakota? Top spots for premium cuts and sides

Published

1 day ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

Best steakhouse in South Dakota? Top spots for premium cuts and sides

Step inside a few of South Dakota’s most iconic steakhouses, where the baked potatoes are foil-wrapped and the wood-fired grill is crackling.

Don’t mess with South Dakota’s red meat.

With some of the best, high-quality cattle in the country raised right here in the Mt. Rushmore state, you’ll easily find a ribeye nearby.

But not all steaks are the same. We compared the cut, the prep and the presentation and narrowed down a few of our favorite steakhouses for our carnivores.

Hartford Steak Co. Tavern

The concept for a small and affordable menu began with a burger sold for a nickel by Diane Friese’s great-grandfather in the 1920s. A family tradition untouched over the decades, you can still buy a filet mignon for an easy $15 at the Hartford Steak Co. today. But that’s about it. The filets are sized up to 24 ounces, then there’s steak tips or a hot beef sandwich to choose from. All come with a crisp, cold lettuce wedge, baked potato, and warm French bread. On the weekends, they spice it up with a $20 prime rib dinner (meaning the filets are off the menu, only one choice for you). Order a margarita on the side and enjoy a no-fuss night.

The Hartford Steakhouse has a second location in Vermillion, South Dakota.

Details: 709 N. Mundt Ave., Hartford, S.D., 605-528-6185, hartfordsteakcotavern.com.

Morrie’s Steakhouse

It’s giving Old Hollywood glam, some soft jazz and extravagance. Namesake Morrie Richards was a humble farmer from Ipswich, South Dakota, but Mama taught the family hospitality, and now the steakhouse is an experience for families and business diners. Steak is the star, but what comes with it elevates the night. Shared sides include loaded hash browns or smoked pork mac, and steak accompaniments include a 75-day-old cave-aged blue cheese slab or a three-day veal demi-glaze. Morrie’s honors community ranchers as well, bringing to the table local grass-fed butcher cuts and bone-in Tomahawk wagyu ribeyes.

Details: 2507 S. Shirley Ave., Sioux Falls, S.D., 605-362-8125, morriessteakhouse.com.

Mad Mary’s

Along the Big Sioux River in South Dakota is Mad Mary’s Steakhouse, a classic mom-and-pop in Flandreau, South Dakota, that’s been attracting hunters for more than 30 years. It’s changed hands a few times, but has been led now by Christina Ramos since 2018, who served at Mad Mary’s for more than a decade. She’s got a “secret seasoning” in the kitchen for her prime rib and sirloins, but come for the Butcher’s Trio to try it all: a plate of beef, chicken and pork served with a twice-baked potato and buttered toast for $50.

Mad Mary’s has a second location in Pierre, South Dakota, under different ownership, where you get a free T-shirt if you order a margarita. Size up after all that hearty South Dakota beef.

Details: 306 N. Veterans St., Flandreau, S.D., 605-997-9901, madmaryssteakhouse.com.

Ironwood Steakhouse

A bespoke contemporary experience in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the Minneapolis-based restaurateurs of Ironwood Steakhouse bring to town their crisp white linens, sparkly chandeliers and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Big Sioux River and Falls Park.

The maître d wears a suit and tie, so maybe you should, too.

The two-story, upscale supper club brings in its prime-aged beef from Snake River Farms in Idaho and cooks over coals for that unmistakable sear. Try the eight-ounce wagyu Zabuton, steak tartare or the steak Diane: an eight-ounce teres major cut with mushroom cream sauce.

Then return for their mushroom pierogis, rabbit stroganoff or even just an espresso martini at the bar, served with your own picture printed atop the foam.

A toast to our steak victors.

Details: 150 E. Fourth Place, Sioux Falls, S.D., 605-937-0280, ironwoodsf.com.

Delmonico Grill

Another for the upscale diners, Delmonico Grill in Rapid City, South Dakota, has been serving its in-house, dry-aged “Kona” Hawaiian style ribeye for nearly 20 years. It’s classic steakhouse fare in a comfortable atmosphere: Choose from intimate booths or red velvet benches, with a view of downtown Main Street always abuzz.

Details: 609 Main St., Rapid City, S.D., 605-791-1664, delmonicogrill.com.

Did we miss your favorite steakhouse? Drop us a line at ageorge@usatodayco.com with details.

Angela George is the trending news reporter for the Argus Leader in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, part of the USA TODAY Co. network. Email ageorge@usatodayco.com.

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