BISMARCK – Bishop Ryan Catholic School parents were among North Dakotans at a legislative hearing Wednesday who voiced their support for a House bill to provide state funds for private school education.

“House Bill 1532 would not only help to reinforce our parental choices for our children, but it would also help to alleviate the financial burden that choice bears on our families,” said Heather Huighe of Minot, who has two children enrolled at Bishop Ryan. “House Bill 1532 would make the parental right to be an educational advocate for your child or children accessible. Currently, North Dakota’s private institutions are not an accessible education option for all of our families due to the lack of state support.”

HB 1532 would offset a parent’s qualified education expense at an eligible private school by an amount equal to 15-30% of the state’s per pupil payment to public schools, currently just over $10,000. Parents would have to request the state funds be paid to their schools.

House Bill 1532 drew opposition at the House Education Committee hearing from education groups such as ND United and the N.D. School Boards Association as well as the N.D. AFL-CIO.

Aimee Copas, executive director for the N.D. Council of Education Leaders, said the fiscal note would be closer to $61 million than the $24 million listed for the bill for the biennium. She also suggested private schools be held to public school standards if they receive public funds.

“They have to be held by all the same rules as public schools – transparency, accountability, fiscal rules that include in-lieu-of deductions and all the laws that public schools are subject to, such as instructional requirements, assessments, reporting and acceptance of every student,” she said.

Legislators quizzed private school administrators on enrollment policies, particularly the acceptance of students with special educational needs.

Jeff Ringstad, administrator at Our Redeemer’s Christian School in Minot, said students may be turned away due to lack of school space, but the school has a number of students on special education plans. Although the school partners with Minot Public Schools in special education, there are barriers that leave ORCS often not able to provide the same level of service as MPS, he said.

“We would love to accept every student. The way that the system is created right now, that is not an option,” Ringstad said.

Father Jadyn Nelson, president at Bishop Ryan, said the school collaborates with Minot Public Schools for extra resources for students who need help beyond that provided by the special education strategist on staff.

Nelson also said parents interested in a Catholic school education for their children often face a dilemma. They pay local and state tax dollars for the common good, but because of a desire for a Catholic education for their children, they feel they must forfeit their share in the common good, he said.

“This often places a financial burden that we’ve heard over and over and over again,” Nelson said.

Danielle Wangler, Minot, a public school teacher with a child at Bishop Ryan, said she made the private school choice despite the financial strain because of her son’s interest in the faith and a possible career in ministry.

“It’s about the students and their individual needs regardless of financial situations,” she said. “I believe that change is needed so that all students in North Dakota will have the opportunity to have an education that meets their individual need and interest.”

District 3 Republican Chair Amber Vibeto, Minot, whose children attend a private school, called HB 1532 well intentioned but short-sighted.

“House Bill 1532 fails to address why these parents would choose an alternative to public education in the first place and ignores the main problem. Our education system is broken,” she said, citing lack of academic proficiency by public school students.

She talked about education savings account programs in some other states that provide families with $4,300 to $8,000 annually for education-related expenses.

“The vast majority of credible evidence shows that school choice programs improve academic outcomes, not only for the program participants but also for students in public schools,” she said. “School choice leads to competition. Competition leads to excellence, and excellence leads to success. House Bill 1532 focuses on helping a small percentage of students and ignores the vast majority of students who are stuck in a failing system and have no option but to remain.”

The House committee did not take immediate action on the bill.