Common Ground Addresses Bleak SD State Education Investment Census Numbers

From an SDDP Release:

Common Ground Themed Release
South Dakota Democratic Party
www.sdcommonground.org
October 30, 2006

Common Ground Invests in Education
- Census Numbers Show South Dakota Last in State Education Funding-

Pierre, SD

In March of 2006, the US Census released figures that are horrible news for South Dakota’s children. According to the figures, South Dakota ranks last in the nation in terms of state investment in public education. The unified Democratic Common Ground plan calls for the Adequacy Education Bill (SB 120) as the mechanism to invest in education.

“When you couple the record opt-outs with these bleak Census statistics, there is little doubt that South Dakota’s state education investment is inadequate,” said Senator Ben Nesselhuf, who serves on the Senate Education Committee. “With Common Ground, Democrats are the only candidates with a clear plan to address the issue.”

“With the Alliance Education Bill, we’re not asking for the farm,” said Representative Burt Elliott, an Aberdeen teacher who serves on the House Education Committee. “If you factor in the additional state investment the Alliance Bill provides, it only gets South Dakota to 42nd in the nation in terms of state investment in education.”

Common Ground is an eleven point plan and pledge to voters that seeks to change the priorities in Pierre from issues that divide, to issues that unite South Dakotans. The entire slate of 89 Democratic candidates has signed on to Common Ground, and has made a point to reach out to moderate Republicans who share the same desire to move South Dakota forward.

Breakdown of surrounding state’s investment in education from the US Census:

Minnesota is 4th with $7,272 per student in state funding.
Wyoming is 10th with $5,834 per student in state funding.
Iowa is 31st with $4,059 per student in state funding.
North Dakota is 46th with $3,307 per student in state funding.
South Dakota is 50th with $2,742 per student in state funding.

The Alliance Education Bill calls for $820 more per student which would place South Dakota at 42nd.

The figures can be found at http://ftp2.census.gov/govs/school/04f33pub.pdf and by typing page 23 in your PDF browser (not page 23 on the report) and going to Table 11.

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