House Bill 1250 was billed as creating “South Dakota educational empowerment accounts," but criticized by opponents for serving as a voucher program that would divert funds from public education.
The Senate Education committee passed a bill Tuesday to standardize school safety practices, like locking and monitoring doors, and running a school safety tip line, across the state.
Legislators originally failed to pass Sen. Brent Hoffman’s school safety bill. After removing a controversial section, a second version of the bill gained committee support.
With Uvalde, Columbine, and everywhere in between still fresh in memories, parents and lawmakers want to make sure their children are safe at schools. Just how to practically implement best practices, though, is another question.