Lawmakers looking to establish charter schools in North Dakota

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) - Charter schools are specialized versions of public schools, operating with more flexible governance, curriculum and teaching methods. In a push for school choice, lawmakers are looking to legalize charters in North Dakota.

Senate Bill 2241 establishes the guidelines for charter schools, the biggest takeaways being that they be open to anyone and can’t be religion-based. It had strong support in the Senate and is now in the hands of House lawmakers.

While career academies and CTE centers are growing in North Dakota, Bismarck Senator Michelle Axtman says charters can provide more educational options.

“It’s simply a way to drive and increase innovation within our public school system without taking away from our traditional public schools,” said Sen. Michelle Axtman, R-Bismarck.

The idea is also supported by Governor Kelly Armstrong and Lieutenant Governor Michelle Strinden.

“Any time you give parents and kids more autonomy over their education, I think that’s a good thing,” said Armstrong.

With North Dakota already facing a staffing shortage, opponents fear charter schools could dilute the number of available teachers and special education professionals.

“We urge the committee to consider a potential unintended consequence of spreading already limited resources too thin,” said Anna Rackley, with Protection and Advocacy Project.

Some also have concerns about taking away state dollars from public schools, which Armstrong says isn’t an issue.

“There will be an increase in the public education budget this biennium over the last biennium. What this really does is give kids and parents more choice,” said Armstrong.

The House Education Committee will make a recommendation at a later date.

North Dakota is one of four states that doesn’t have legislation for charter schools.

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