Push for publicly funded charter schools fails in South Dakota Senate

By: Meghan O'Brien

Outlets: South Dakota Searchlight

Published: February 20, 2026

Words: 536

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 4 days ago

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PIERRE — A proposal to allow charter schools in the state lost Thursday on a tie vote in the South Dakota Senate and failed on reconsideration Friday, after narrowly advancing out of a Senate committee.

A recent decision by the state Supreme Court confirmed Republican Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen’s authority to break Senate ties while he’s presiding over the chamber, but he sealed the bill’s fate Thursday by choosing not to cast a …

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