South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem attacks education lobby after death of 'educational freedom' initiative

Lawmakers rejected $15M request to fund foster schooling

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PIERRE — A panel of South Dakota senators this week said no to a pilot program that would have entitled families with foster children to receive educational scholarships of up to $4,000.

But it’s the South Dakota education lobby that should get the credit for killing the $15-million initiative coming from the governor’s office.

That’s according to Gov. Kristi Noem, who Friday released a scathing op-ed accusing the state’s teachers union and others public education advocacy groups of lying to the Senate Education Committee before it voted 4-2 to reject the creation of the “Stronger Families Scholarship” fund.

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