SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — As state legislators consider allowing Native American charter schools in South Dakota, the Sioux Falls School District has come out against the bill.
The board approved positions on several bills circulating in Pierre at Monday night’s meeting. The report, presented by district Business Manager Todd Vik, said the charter school bill “is not ready for prime time.”
One of the things the board takes issue with is who is allowed to sponsor the proposed charter schools. If passed the bill would allow schools to be sponsored by either the school district in their town or the state Department of Education.
“A school district already has the ability to operate a school in accordance with Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings and Standards if they wish,” the board’s statement read. “The bill would allow the Department of Education to sponsor a charter school within a school district without action of the local school board.”
The district also challenged the legal basis for the bill, which stipulates that the charter schools would be exempt from certain state laws.
“Neither the sponsor nor the charter school has the legal authority to make this exemption,” said the statement from the board. “The bill itself does not exempt the charter school from any state laws, which brings into question the purpose of the bill.”
South Dakota does not currently allow any type of charter school.
