By: Michael Achterling (ND Monitor)
North Dakota educational options are set to expand as House lawmakers advanced a private school voucher bill Monday and the governor signed a bill establishing public charter schools.
The House in a 49-43 vote agreed to changes made by the Senate to House Bill 1540, which establishes Education Savings Accounts for private school students.
The bill will now go to Gov. Kelly Armstrong’s desk for his signature or veto. If signed into law, the new private school vouchers would be available for the 2026-27 school year.
Armstrong also signed a bill Monday that establishes the framework to implement public charter schools in North Dakota.
“Expanding school choice is a win-win for North Dakota families and for our state’s workforce and long-term success,” Armstrong said in a statement. “The public charter schools authorized by this bill can drive innovation, improve student outcomes and increase parent satisfaction.”
Lawmakers have been fairly split on bills related to Education Savings Accounts. House Bill 1540, which passed the Senate last week on a 27-20 vote, only benefits families with children attending private school.
As amended, the bill provides private school vouchers in an amount that varies depending on household income. Students from families in the lowest income category could receive about $4,000 per year, while students from the highest income category could receive a little over $1,000 per year.
The bill is estimated to cost about $20 million in the first year, though the exact amount will depend on how many students use the vouchers. The state projects that about 8,000 students will attend North Dakota private schools in 2026-27, according to a fiscal analysis of the bill.
House Majority Leader Rep. Mike Lefor, R-Dickinson, who voted in favor of the bill, said it allows parents to shape the educational futures of their children.
“Beyond academics, House Bill 1540 ensures equality,” Lefor said. “Parents know their children best. It’s not the government, but families who should have the final say in their children’s education.”
Rep. Liz Conmy, D-Fargo, voted against the bill and told lawmakers the North Dakota Constitution prohibits the use of public school tax dollars to support a sectarian school.
“We are obligated, constitutionally, to fund and strengthen public schools and specifically directed to not subsidize private education,” Conmy said. “We don’t get to pick and choose what part of the constitution we want to go with or not.”
A competing Senate Education Savings Account bill, Senate Bill 2400, proposed to benefit public school and homeschooled students in addition to private school students. It passed the Senate but received a do-not-pass recommendation by the House Education Committee in March. The bill has not been forwarded for a full chamber vote.
Sen. Michelle Axtman, R-Bismarck, chief sponsor of the Senate bill, prepared an amendment to her Education Savings Account bill Monday for a House Education Committee hearing. She sought to introduce an amendment to remove the private school portion of her bill and advance an Education Savings Account of $500 for educational expenses for public school and homeschooled students.
However, committee members denied a motion to reconsider the bill. It will advance to full chamber.
After the committee hearing, Axtman said the bill that passed the House is leaving out a “key component” of school choice – public school students. She said she also worries about rural students with limited choices because new charter schools probably won’t make their way into deeply rural areas.
“I think we are missing a huge segment of choice for those students,” Axtman said. “I’ve always from day one been a supporter of a universal program that is truly universal so I’m disappointed we couldn’t get there.”
Armstrong recommended $44.3 million in his preliminary budget in January for a potential Education Savings Account program that would cover public, private and homeschooled students.
North Dakota United, a union representing public school teachers and other state employees, opposes Education Savings Accounts. Nick Archuleta, president of North Dakota United, said the private school vouchers will only benefit a small selection of North Dakota students.
“I think the governor is going to look long and hard at it and, ultimately, the voters will,” Archuleta said. “We don’t believe it provides school choice. We believe that it’s the school’s choice to educate whom they choose to educate in that particular bill, so we weren’t in favor of that bill and still aren’t.”
