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About the Backpack Bill
What is SB ### The Backpack Bill
The Backpack Bill is an innovative funding mechanism for students that will provide a state-funded Educational Savings Account (ESA) to every South Dakota K-12 student who opts into the program. The student may use these ESA funds for authorized educational expenses, including funding enrollment at the open-enrollment public school of their choice, tuition at a private school of their choice or homeschooling expenses.
Why is the Backpack Bill needed?
South Dakota’s system of assigning students to a public school based upon where the student lives
South Dakota’s education system doesn't always meet the diverse needs of many of our children by limiting their schooling options to a single choice, and some schools within a child's district are a hardship on families to commute to. The one-size-fits-all approach cannot provide what every student and family needs and creates a monopoly on schooling options. The lack of competition hinders responsiveness and innovation. Many students are trapped in underperforming schools or in schools that undermine core tenets of their belief systems.
Most of the children in public schools have no other options, so the schools lack incentive to respond to parental concerns. The Backpack Bill will break the monopoly of the one-size-fits-all system by funding the students rather than the system. The market forces created by this will result in a dramatically improved educational landscape that will benefit all students, regardless of where they choose to attend.
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faqs
The Backpack Bill is an innovative funding mechanism for students that will provide a state-funded Educational Savings Account (ESA) to every South Dakota K-12 student who opts into the program. The student may use these ESA funds for authorized educational expenses, including tuition at a private school of their choice or homeschooling expenses.
Click below to find out more about the Backpack Bill, what it is, why it's needed, how much money follows the child, if there is an income threshold, how it works for homeschooling, private or public school, and what happens to local property tax.
myths
Every child is unique, and families should be empowered to choose the best educational setting to meet their child’s needs. At the same time, the Backpack Bill ensures that South Dakota maintains strong funding for community and public schools.
Click below for more details on dispelling backpack bill myths with facts and examples of school choice success.