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.