Native American Charter School (Audio)
Air Date:02/03/2010
By Jenifer Jones
The Senate passed a bill that authorizes a pilot charter school for Native American Students. The school can be created if the Department of Education receives a grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
The charter school would emphasize science, technology, engineering, and math, as well as Native American culture. Supporters say the school would allow students to return to their communities as leaders that can impact others. Senator Sandy Jerstad of Sioux Falls supports the bill. She says it's the best way she's heard of helping the Native American population.
"Which, we all know has struggled for so long and been a huge, not only a blight for South Dakota, but an economic problem," Jerstad says. "Just think of the economic turnaround. And you can say, 'well I don't believe it's there'. You can say that 'well I don't believe we should be doing this now.' But I see a dream and I see a great possibility of something fabulous happening out there."
Opponents of the bill are concerned about funding for the project.
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