Democrats Want More School Funding

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - The Democratic minority in the South Dakota Legislature is proposing measures that would lead to increases in state aid to school districts.

The Democrats' plan would set a funding goal equal to the average spent by neighboring states, which would amount to a substantial increase in spending per student. Democrats also want to have state aid to schools rise each year by the same amount as overall state revenues rise.

Republican Governor Dennis Daugaard says the Democrats are taking the wrong approach because increased spending does not lead to gains in student achievement. The governor says his plan to give bonuses to the top teachers in each school district would do more to improve the performance of students.

The governor also wants to eliminate tenure for all new teachers.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)