Like the families in D.C., the families of the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation in North Dakota also face obstacles when it comes to education. Check out this story on St. Anne's Catholic School.

The families of Washington, D.C. are in a tough political fight to preserve the nation's only federally-funded voucher program -- a successful program by all accounts. Check out and share this must-see video about their struggle for education.

North Dakota Legislative Assembly to nonpublic schools:

• You can’t open a school without state approval;
• We will tell you what subjects you must teach;
• All of your teachers and principals must be licensed by the state;

Oh, and one more thing -- you can’t have a seat at the table when it comes to deciding the future of North Dakota’s educational system.

That is apparently the view of some legislators who are resisting allowing a representative from nonpublic schools to sit on the new North Dakota Commission on Education Improvement - even as a nonvoting member.

The commission is part of the massive House Bill 1400, a major overhaul of the state's education system. The Senate Appropriations Committee saw the justice involved and added a nonvoting representative from the nonpublic schools to the commission. Some legislators, however, oppose having any nonpublic representation on the commission.

Contact HB 1400's conference committee members and urge them to support including a nonpublic school representative on the Commission for Education Improvement.

Sen. Layton Freborg,R-Underwood (lfreborg@nd.gov);
Sen. Tim Flakoll, R-Fargo (lflakoll@nd.gov)
Sen. Ryan Taylor, D-Towner (rtaylor@nd.gov)
Rep. RaeAnn Kelsch, R-Mandan (rkelsch@nd.gov)
Rep. John Wall, R-Wahpeton (jwall@nd.gov)
Rep. Phil Mueller, D-Valley City (pmueller@nd.gov)

The House Finance and Tax Committee will consider three important bills on Wednesday (January 14.)

The first is House Bill 1190. This bill allows a North Dakota tax credit for contributions made to nonprofit private colleges or high schools. Urge Committee Members to Support HB 1190.

The second bill is HB 1200. This bill will take away the property tax exemptions for hospitals and nursing homes and make them subject to local taxes for fire, law enforcement and emergency services. The bill also removes the exemption for group homes, YMCAs and other organizations. The bill would have a major impact on public charities and must be defeated. Urge Committee Members to Oppose HB 1200.

The third bill is HB 1203. This bill allows North Dakota tax credits for contributions to nonprofit foundations with certain endowments. This will be a major benefit to Catholic schools and other nonprofit organizations. Urge Committee Members to Support HB 1203.

2009 House Finance and Taxation Committee

Wesley R. Belter wbelter@nd.gov R-Leonard, - Chairman
David Drovdal ddrovdal@nd.gov R – Arnegard, - Vice Chairman
Michael D. Brandenburg, mbrandenburg@nd.gov R-Edgeley
Glen Froseth, gfroseth@nd.gov R-Kenmare
Bette B. Grande, bgrande@nd.gov R – West Fargo
Craig Headland, cheadland@nd.gov R - Montpelier
Dave Weiler, dweiler@nd.gov R - Bismarck
Dwight Wrangham, dwrangham@nd.gov R - Bismarck
Rod Froelich, rfroelich@nd.gov D - Selfridge
Scot Kelsh, skelsh@nd.gov D – Fargo
Louis Pinkerton, lpinkerton@nd.gov D-Minot
Arlo E. Schmidt, arschmidt@nd.gov D – Maddock
Lonny Winrich, lbwinrich@nd.gov D-Grand Forks

Since the Old Testament, the test of a just society was how well it welcomed and helped immigrants.

The Grand Forks Herald recently highlighted how the area’s schools are helping children learn English. Some of the money needed for these programs come from the federal government, but state money is also needed. Each legislative session, the questions arise about the program. Those concerned about the Biblical instruction to welcome the newcomer should read this story.

Vatican correspondent John Allen reports that Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education, describes the U.S. government's lack of support for Catholic schools a "disaster" and a disrespect for "full democracy." If the lack of support by the United States, as a whole, is a disaster, what would he think if North Dakota -- which ranks near or at the bottom of the 50 states when it comes to providing assistance to nonpublic schools and parents?

John Allen's column can be found here.

The House Education Committee heard convincing testimony on the importance of school nurses in today's schools. Senate Bill 2385 would appropriate funds for grants schools and school districts to for the use of school nurses. The bill would allow nonpublic schools to apply for the grants. A school nurse from Fargo Catholic Schools was among those testifying in favor of the bill.

House Bill 1478 would have given a tax credit for contributions and tuition payments to both public and nonpublic schools. The bill was amended to allow the credit only for contributions. Nevertheless, the bill failed on the House floor. By encouraging contributions that could have been used for scholarships, this bill could have helped low income families have a real choice in education for their children.

The Senate Education Committee is reviewing SB 2371. The bill would allow grandparents and certain foster care providers to provide home education. The bill would also clarify that parents are supervisors, but not necessarily always the direct educators of home educated children. The North Dakota Catholic Conference testified in support of the bill's clarification provisions.

At the request of Representative Merle Boucher, North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, has issued an opinion about North Dakota's home education law. The Attorney General concluded that North Dakota law does not permit a home educating parent to supervise the education of that parent's child by another individual.

The opinion will likely impact deliberations on Senate Bill 2371. That bill would allow, in addition to parents, grandparents and foster care providers to provide home education. The bill also changes some language in the existing law to indicate that the person providing home education can act in a supervisory role. The Senate Education Committee will hear the bill on Tuesday, February 6 at 10:15 a.m., in the Missouri River Room.

The Fargo Forum reports on why more parents in the Fargo/Moorhead area are choosing nonpublic schools for the children's education.

The House Finance and Tax Committee is still considering HB 1478, a bill to provide tax credits for contributions and tuition payments to both public and nonpublic schools. This next week, the Senate Finance and Tax Committee will consider a bill to provide tax credits for home educators. The bill is SB 2414 and will be heard Monday morning at 10:00 a.m. in the Lewis and Clark Room.

HB 1478 would provide a tax credit for contributions to schools, including nonpublic schools. The contribution could be a donation or a tuition payment. The House Education Committee will hold a hearing on the bill at 11:00 am, Monday, January 22 in the Pioneer Room. (Correction: the hearing was held in the House Finance and Tax Committee.) Supporters of nonpublic schools are encouraged to attend.