North Dakota school choice bill would provide annual $1,500 tax credit per student

(Fargo, ND) -- A bill to fund North Dakota's first ever school choice initiative is moving forward in Bismarck. 

"This would allow $1,500 a school year for their child. Originally it was about $3,000 but the appropriations committee had amended it down," said the bill's sponsor, State Representative Claire Cory, a republican from Grand Forks.

Cory says $24 million dollars in funding for HB 1532 would come from the state's general fund and not from the Common Schools Trust Fund. The tax credits would not be made available to parents who homeschool their children. The majority leaders for both the house and the senate also co-sponsor The bill. 

"A lot of parents were upset with what schools were doing during covid and I think that, I think there's just s lot more momentum for the program now," said Cory.