[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6349508,"mediaKeyId","2238442-383d0ad2a581d0473ee6e781b01d7c91","parentId",2238442,"title","Bill would let state fund non‑beneficiary students at tribally controlled schools; amendment seeks to clarify agreement authority","audioSeconds",597,"startMs",2586000,"endMs",3183000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2238442-383d0ad2a581d0473ee6e781b01d7c91&start=2586&end=3183","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2238442-383d0ad2a581d0473ee6e781b01d7c91/thumbnail_2586000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6349508/North-Dakota/Bill-would-let-state-fund-nonbeneficiary-students-at-tribally-controlled-schools-amendment-seeks-to-clarify-agreement-authority","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6349508-d182422feb821e45f10db2f4e4f948b1/orig.mp4?Expires=1775167226&Signature=MlcXPoGPCnsnZYD9IAUGmff6vk4d8noEBGCpbWBiks8PM6eJKpnIHcbMxWDiHvpDRF9z-9Bhh4oBfnkjO6oSOnVx~mHAb7poBPsA8VRL~0ioxmoD211Y3zolfjG1AwLaZaobADF7awlZTOwU9cpQH~NZ83hcS0AR~sWrWGiGZSvrnFw1qbfw-QsXZWrSjmgd3K8MNburRXE4uvNKPpur5eAzqs2tySYGGYt~IJVUej2yUiLTsbEGLUUdOJlaXnmsNxqUZntwuL5b5zqpQ~miD3ljd0UHNjI~qXzxgh0V8eUd~qtIGDBfxjmgC79d2rcvnmT-SBCVxD587OIYXfLxkw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","State of North Dakota","date","2025-02-04T00:00:00Z","article","The House Education Committee heard House Bill 15-65, introduced by Representative Colette Brown, to establish a grant program and statutory authority for public agencies and tribes to enter agreements that would support the education of non‑beneficiary students attending tribally controlled schools.

\"This legislation along with existing collaborative agreements recognize a vital importance of supporting these educational institutions ensuring that all students regardless of their tribal status have access to the education they deserve,\" Representative Colette Brown said when introducing the bill and an amendment to section 54‑40.2‑02 of the North Dakota Century Code.

Brown told the committee the amendment would remove ambiguous language and add clarifying provisions so tribally controlled schools can explicitly enter agreements with public school districts or the state for funding and administration. The proposed change would also require any agreement to \"clearly specify the board of the school district will retain its identity and decision making authority while fulfilling its statutory duties in accordance with state law,\" language included in the amendment Brown offered.

Testimony from Duane Patra, who identified himself as a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and a school district business manager, outlined the broader context: he said there are roughly 11 Bureau of Indian Education (BIE)‑funded schools in North Dakota, of which about six are tribally controlled and eight have some form of collaboration with the state. Patra described funding differences that create a persistent fiscal disadvantage at some tribal schools.

\"A lot of these tribal grant schools receive what is referred to as ISEP funding, which is roughly $7,500 per student,\" Patra said. \"State funding and local tax authority generally produce a higher per‑pupil amount, often around $11,000, and tribal schools typically cannot levy local property tax to make up the difference.\"

Witnesses said Tate Topa School (Tate Topa/Tetetopa) currently educates about 42 non‑beneficiary students for which the estimated additional cost to the state would be about $762,000 if an agreement were enacted; Brown said the fiscal note for the amendment is not required unless an agreement is reached and the state accepts financial responsibility. Senator Richard Marsley also testified in support of the bill on behalf of districts that include Spirit Lake and Turtle Mountain.

Committee members asked whether the proposed language would affect existing agreements and whether the change preserved school‑district authority; witnesses said the amendment was drafted to add clarity and to avoid undermining agreements already in place. No committee vote on the bill or the amendment was recorded during the hearing; the committee closed the hearing and left the bill pending for future action.

If enacted and implemented, the amendment would permit a tribe and a public agency to enter into an agreement that could fund the education of non‑beneficiary students at tribally controlled schools, with terms to define oversight and fiscal responsibilities through the public school system.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Education Feb 4, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The House Education Committee heard House Bill 15-65 and an amendment to North Dakota Century Code section 54‑40.2‑02 to authorize agreements and funding to support non‑beneficiary students attending tribally controlled schools.","taxTitle","Education, House of Representatives, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28889,"location","North Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6349513,"Committee hears bill to fund tribal school infrastructure, includes request for 4 Winds parking lot improvements",642,1686000,2328000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2238442-383d0ad2a581d0473ee6e781b01d7c91&start=1686&end=2328","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2238442-383d0ad2a581d0473ee6e781b01d7c91/thumbnail_1686000.jpg","/articles/6349513/North-Dakota/Committee-hears-bill-to-fund-tribal-school-infrastructure-includes-request-for-4-Winds-parking-lot-improvements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6349513-b85dbf7e7f3a5630c55367e49301e25b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775167226&Signature=JJXC~YhcPJTGWxT7dcQQt0QTf6qDFT9SaiJbz0z99g3buYDVuFOeFT1d9zKvG5SjJ2OpZsEUuZ7zG3ayJcWlIQXegYA3rkJlQcrtsB64nTOlT44WdfpOKTExcKc3Pk2bDZ95eAU7Ku88~EIfN2JZO5gVe0oi4M~AayDoB9gjMNFWfLLNCnHMVZDmDNq~Gd0qFB6-Z~kIguhBAtw~BH2D8fqVcfagTMLMl7O1Z9iie4e1~pMVpgXAQlIQIOjfU2fguX4jKpNpRANvbBU0DfWNFBR4kQ4m7cAyIN133yWgc8BH-TUE8KLM7xCqoZF5LNQtOWaYL9uEaJomeaOgOQhQ2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Education Committee on the record reopened consideration of House Bill 16-18, a proposal to appropriate funds to the Department of Public Instruction for tribal school infrastructure grants. Representative Lisa Finley DeVille, the bill’s primary sponsor, told the committee the bill would give DPI flexibility to award grants based on individual tribal schools’ priorities.

\"If parking lot improvements are a critical need for the school, then those funds can be used to ensure that it becomes a safer and more functional space,\" Representative Lisa Finley DeVille said in introducing the bill.

Supporters, including Representative Colette Brown, described a direct request from Spirit Lake leadership to repair the parking lot at 4 Winds High School. Brown said the school receives a majority of its funding from the Bureau of Indian Education and that the parking lot has not been substantially improved in decades, creating safety and access problems for students, staff and buses.

Brown said the project estimate discussed with the committee totaled about $1.3 million and that Spirit Lake would cover roughly 20 percent of that cost; she gave the tribe’s share as $246,814 and characterized the state share as \"something like a million\" dollars. The committee did not adopt or vote on the bill or any appropriation at the hearing.

Committee members asked questions about whether 4 Winds High School received state per‑pupil payments and whether the school is tribally controlled or federally operated. Brown said the high school portion does receive some state funding, while other grades on the same campus are funded differently. Committee members also sought a written cost estimate and clarification of which portion of the campus would be eligible for grant funds.

The hearing record includes written estimates supplied by Spirit Lake leadership; witnesses said the tribe planned to contribute the stated 20 percent local share for the 4 Winds parking lot project. No committee motion or roll-call vote on House Bill 16-18 was recorded; the hearing was closed and the bill left pending.

Implementation and next steps remain conditional on future legislative action and any appropriation by the Legislature. The Department of Public Instruction would administer the grant program if the bill is enacted.","The House Education Committee heard House Bill 16-18, which would appropriate funds to the Department of Public Instruction for tribal school infrastructure grants. Supporters cited a specific request from Spirit Lake for repairs at 4 Winds High School’s parking lot; no committee vote was taken.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6349505,"House Education Committee advances multiple bills: English‑learner weighting, student aid and per‑pupil rates moved forward",3137,3132000,6269000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2238442-383d0ad2a581d0473ee6e781b01d7c91&start=3132&end=6269","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2238442-383d0ad2a581d0473ee6e781b01d7c91/thumbnail_3132000.jpg","/articles/6349505/North-Dakota/House-Education-Committee-advances-multiple-bills-Englishlearner-weighting-student-aid-and-perpupil-rates-moved-forward","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6349505-53c058f6a231d716aab6ece284120285/orig.mp4?Expires=1775167226&Signature=mlWEofGVIn8sgDuDPD9XrVSWRe0TTASivTuv26OKtPh6pK1In1OrNU63dFefjcxq1wKNaOYtV-8E3qf2wYXaYPMQblsiayxTHmI2BfEUHGBBe84heqWh5r8RUXNBb-C10uwIPPXpHxG~evVfZ2HVMPibtA46fk2dAQxgLZYKqr9tcnNMdpREMLLD8jwfOymcpRy9SoNLTsg4H4SWvTCbJpnlnrBKWgFGdId3pFcusIha-IbPyZPotCBXabcm~xQQvsJyrdKl17SHoE6j0ypF2RfT5KT9-jlwmucSb1zpuyciTrI77u6Gb86FLWwbe~~f5aUOBYQB0C4TjAFuDjV-0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Education Committee debated and voted on a set of education funding and policy bills, adopting amendments and recommending several bills be referred to the appropriations committee.

On House Bill 14‑94 (an English‑learner funding bill), representatives debated language that narrows the targeted proficiency levels and reduces the per‑pupil weight for a specified category of English learners. Representative Jonas described amendments that consolidated proficiency groupings and reduced a weight from 0.4 to 0.1 for a defined level of learners; committee staff provided a revised fiscal estimate for the amendment.

The committee voted to accept the amendment and later gave House Bill 14‑94 a due‑pass recommendation to appropriations. The roll calls recorded acceptance of the amendment and the due‑pass recommendation with 13 yes, 0 no, and 1 absent on the final due‑pass vote.

Representative Jonas and Department of Public Instruction staff (Adam Tesher) discussed fiscal consequences. Tesher provided a revised fiscal note for the amendment, which the committee described as driving the bill’s fiscal note to about $16.4 million under the amended weighting scenario. Committee members said the adopted changes produced an approximately 30% increase in the fiscal note from a previous baseline, subject to final per‑pupil calculations.

On House Bill 13‑69 (per‑pupil payments for the 2025‑27 biennium), the committee discussed setting the per‑pupil payment at $11,404 for 2025‑26 and $11,746 for 2026‑27, representing a 3% increase per year under the bill as presented. The committee moved a due‑pass recommendation and referred the bill to appropriations.

On House Bill 15‑17 (a student‑teacher scholarship program), the committee adopted two amendments clarifying eligibility and referencing the licensing authority, including language that applicants must not hold an initial or alternate access teaching license issued by the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board and clarifying that participating teacher‑preparation programs be North Dakota state‑approved. The committee approved those amendments on a roll call of 14 yes votes and then left the bill pending for further amendment work (members discussed possible repayment or \"clawback\" language but did not adopt that language in committee).

Other technical and capital‑finance language changes were also considered and amended on multiple bills during the meeting; several amendments were adopted on voice votes and subsequent roll calls. The committee repeatedly noted that several financial bills must be moved through the schedule to meet legislative deadlines.

Summary of roll‑call outcomes recorded in the hearing record: HB14‑94 (amendment accepted; due pass to appropriations 13‑0 with 1 absent); HB13‑69 (due pass to appropriations, roll calls recorded); HB15‑17 (amendment(s) adopted 14‑0 on amendment roll call).","The House Education Committee adopted amendments and recommended due‑pass referrals for several bills, including changes to English‑learner weighting (House Bill 14‑94) and setting per‑pupil funding levels (House Bill 13‑69). Committee roll calls occurred on amendment acceptance and due‑pass recommendations.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bill would let state fund non‑beneficiary students at tribally controlled schools; amendment seeks to clarify agreement authority

Committee hears bill to fund tribal school infrastructure, includes request for 4 Winds parking lot improvements

House Education Committee advances multiple bills: English‑learner weighting, student aid and per‑pupil rates moved forward