Take action to Oppose School Vouchers in South Dakota

1/20/2025

South Dakota’s public schools are the foundation of our communities, but proposed school voucher legislation threatens to divert millions in public funds away from them. The House Education Committee is currently reviewing these bills, and now is the time to make your voice heard.
Take Action!

Email the House Education Committee – Use the sample email below, personalize it with your concerns, and send it to the committee members.
Call Representatives – A short, direct phone call can make a big impact. Use the call list below.
Share with Others – Encourage friends, family, and community members to take action. Forward this information, post on social media, and talk to your neighbors about why public education matters.
Learn More – Explore the following resources on how school vouchers will harm South Dakota’s education system:

Sample Email (Edit & Personalize)

Subject: Please Vote NO on HB 1020 – Keep Public Dollars in Public Schools

Dear Representative,

As a [parent, teacher, business owner, South Dakotan], I care deeply about the future of South Dakota’s public schools. Public education is the foundation of our communities, especially in rural areas where schools are already stretched thin. That’s why I urge you to vote NO on HB 1020.

Here’s why school vouchers are the wrong choice for South Dakota:
[Choose two or three bullet points from the list below and delete the rest]

Public money should stay in public schools. Our tax dollars should support schools that serve all students, not private institutions that can pick and choose who they admit.
Rural schools will suffer. When funding is diverted, small-town schools are hit hardest, leading to staff shortages, larger class sizes, and fewer opportunities for our kids.
It expands government and wastes taxpayer dollars. A voucher system would require new oversight and regulations, creating costly government bureaucracy instead of putting that money directly into classrooms.
We need well-educated Americans to stay competitive. Other countries are investing in education to strengthen their economies, and we should be doing the same, not wasting millions on an unproven scheme that weakens our public schools.
Other states have seen ballooning costs. States like Arizona have faced massive budget shortfalls because of voucher programs, forcing cuts to essential services and infrastructure. South Dakota can’t afford to go down that path.
South Dakota already offers school choice. Families have long been able to choose open enrollment, private schools, or homeschooling without diverting public funds away from our schools.
Vouchers don’t improve education. Numerous studies show that voucher programs do not improve student outcomes and often worsen educational inequities.
The costs will keep growing. Voucher programs never stay small. Even before this proposal has passed, there’s already talk of expanding it, draining more public funds year after year.
The state budget is already stretched. With lower-than-expected revenue, funding for public schools is barely keeping up with inflation. A new voucher system will either unbalance the budget or force cuts to public schools.
Private schools can still charge tuition. Private schools can raise tuition and collect millions in outside scholarships, even with taxpayer-funded vouchers, while public schools struggle with limited resources.
Our students deserve investment, not cuts. Public schools are the foundation of our communities, preparing students for the workforce and shaping South Dakota’s future. If we want a competitive, well-educated workforce, we must invest in our public schools, not waste millions on an unproven scheme.

As a member of the [Education Committee/South Dakota House of Representatives], you have the chance to stand up for South Dakota’s students and protect our public schools. Please vote NO on HB 1020.

Thank you for your time, and I appreciate your service to our state.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Email Address]
[Phone Number]

Phone Call Script

"Hello, my name is [Your Name], and I am a [parent, teacher, South Dakotan] calling to ask you to vote NO on HB 1020.

South Dakota’s public schools are already underfunded, and school vouchers would take even more money away from them. Instead of creating expensive new government bureaucracy, we should be investing in our public schools to ensure a strong future for our students and our state.

Please stand up for South Dakota’s students and vote NO on HB 1020. Thank you."

Contact the House Education Committee

Emails: (Copy and paste these into BCC to send an email to the entire committee)

[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

Capitol Switchboard: 605-773-3851 (Ask to leave a message for any Representative on the Education Committee)

House Education Committee – South Dakota Legislature

Representative Amber Arlint
Party: Republican
Term: Incumbent
District: 12
Counties: Lincoln, Minnehaha
Occupation: Insurance Agency Owner
Capitol: 605-773-3851
[email protected]

Representative Heather Baxter
Party: Republican
Term: New Member
District: 34
Counties: Pennington
Occupation: Business Owner
Home: 605-646-5573
Capitol: 605-773-3851
Business: 605-646-5573
[email protected]

Representative Roger DeGroot
Party: Republican
Term: Incumbent
District: 07
Counties: Brookings
Occupation: Retired Educator
Capitol: 605-773-3851
[email protected]

Representative Josephine Garcia
Party: Republican
Term: New Member
District: 05
Counties: Codington
Occupation: Health Care Provider, Assistant Professor, Business Owner
Capitol: 605-773-3851
[email protected]

Representative Lana J. Greenfield
Party: Republican
Term: New Member
District: 22
Counties: Beadle, Clark, Spink
Occupation: Self-Employed
Home: 605-635-6932
Capitol: 605-773-3851
Business: 605-635-6996
[email protected]

Representative Mellissa Heermann
Party: Republican
Term: Incumbent
District: 07
Counties: Brookings
Occupation: Revenue Cycle Director
Home: 605-651-7891
Capitol: 605-773-3851
[email protected]

Representative Travis Ismay
Party: Republican
Term: New Member
District: 28B
Counties: Butte, Harding, Perkins
Occupation: Rancher/Welder
Home: 605-456-2146
Capitol: 605-773-3851
Business: 605-490-6010
[email protected]

Representative Phil Jensen
Party: Republican
Term: Incumbent
District: 33
Counties: Meade, Pennington
Occupation: Small Business Owner
Capitol: 605-773-3851
[email protected]

Representative Dylan C. Jordan
Party: Republican
Term: New Member
District: 04
Counties: Clark, Codington, Deuel, Grant, Hamlin, Roberts
Occupation: Machine Operator/DJ
Home: 605-520-4547
Capitol: 605-773-3851
[email protected]

Representative Logan Manhart
Party: Republican
Term: New Member
District: 01
Counties: Brown, Day, Marshall, Roberts
Occupation: Construction/Real Estate
Capitol: 605-773-3851
[email protected]

Representative Kathy Rice
Party: Republican
Term: New Member
District: 29
Counties: Meade
Occupation: Small Business Owner
Home: 605-389-4328
Capitol: 605-773-3851
Business: 605-342-3939
[email protected]

Representative Jim Halverson
Party: Republican
Term: New Member
District: 21
Counties: Aurora, Charles Mix, Douglas, Gregory, Tripp
Occupation: Journeyman Electrician
Home: 605-842-2636
Capitol: 605-773-3851
Business: 605-842-1117
[email protected]

Representative Tesa Schwans
Party: Republican
Term: New Member
District: 09
Counties: Minnehaha
Occupation: Hairstylist, Small Business Owner
Capitol: 605-773-3851
Business: 605-610-9708
[email protected]

Representative Mike Stevens
Party: Republican
Term: Incumbent
District: 18
Counties: Clay, Yankton
Occupation: Attorney
Home: 605-661-0057
Capitol: 605-773-3851
Business: 605-665-5550
[email protected]

Representative Nicole Uhre-Balk
Minority Whip
Party: Democrat
Term: New Member
District: 32
Counties: Pennington
Occupation: Educator
Capitol: 605-773-3851
Business: 605-923-8303
[email protected]

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