North Dakota Senate Committee Hears Hours of Testimony on Education Savings Account Bill

The Senate Education Committee on Monday heard more than 90 minutes of testimony on Senate Bill 2,303, a measure that would create an education savings account program to let state K–12 funding follow students to nonpublic schools or preapproved educational services.

Senator Mike Wabamah, sponsor of SB 2,303, told the committee the program would split state funding so that school districts keep 20% for fixed costs while roughly 80% of a per‑pupil allocation would be paid into an ESA for participating students. “Taxpayer dollars should be used for taxpayers students,” Wabamah said, describing the Bank of North Dakota as the proposed account administrator and the Department of Public Instruction as the agency that would handle applications and prioritization.

Supporters from religious and school‑choice organizations argued the plan would expand options for families. David Tamasia, executive director of the North Dakota Catholic Conference, told the committee SB 2,303 “respects both the right of the child to a state supported education and the right of the parent to…