[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6287735,"mediaKeyId","2547126-8582c3417b93ffdaf3bbee5a0eaa09be","parentId",2547126,"title","Committee hears plan to move North Dakota Children's Cabinet to governor's office (Senate Bill 2176)","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",4284000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2547126-8582c3417b93ffdaf3bbee5a0eaa09be&start=4284&end=4284","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2547126-8582c3417b93ffdaf3bbee5a0eaa09be/thumbnail_4284000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6287735/North-Dakota/Committee-hears-plan-to-move-North-Dakota-Childrens-Cabinet-to-governors-office-Senate-Bill-2176","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6287735-2feeda742e4bb233f7f7d1e62f68a0c2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771121899&Signature=k2s3Ekfuc8mxSohSeWR~HcbVs2onw0JErVGsJeyngTuaPvUh294-FmCDEU-Vpu1viR1t2a56iigNXrXJtzX6zQgTOUHuqPu~yQ~n~HDJWW7FTzXNgFIsKCf2DS5PxEV0IzSFKeh~TKq7se0jdMJ4rqQ2hXrs4Iu~BGkhlx0DwtBol7FI2AeIqiZt0-KwZX7EgI9KYveW97wRmeikVnmAxniXoaV0A-ScztWzdtgT-rh-eA2a6LiIbcR1-vppCCaLHcgjPQR-tLGuK9q3xuzwovatwCN7OW-ICGAuOll9YKbVCW2pdv0vZlC3TYNwB63uJLEWtiTY5va4jwM9t9zfhA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Dakota State Legislature","date","2025-03-11T00:00:00Z","article","Senator Michelle Axman told the House Education Committee she sponsored Senate Bill 2176 to relocate administration of the North Dakota Children's Cabinet to the governor's office and to update the cabinet's membership and operations. The sponsor said the bill restructures membership provisions, allows the presiding officer to establish designated working groups, and removes the requirement for the bill's funding to appear in the bill itself because the expense was included in the governor's budget.

Lieutenant Governor Michelle Strindan, who served as chair of the Children's Cabinet, testified in support. Strindan said placing the cabinet within the governor's office “will place additional focus on the cabinet and accelerate progress for children and families.” She described a strategic planning effort and said the governor's budget provides $65,000: $30,000 for facilitation consultants and $35,000 for ongoing supportive services.

Megan McCann of the Forum for Youth Investment reviewed national examples of children's cabinets and said cabinets located in governors' offices often have more stability and capacity for strategic planning. McCann described the Forum's role in helping North Dakota develop a strategic plan and said strong cabinets typically identify metrics for child well‑being, coordinate cross‑agency work, and convene working groups.

Kim Jacobson, vice chair of the North Dakota Children's Cabinet and director of a human service zone, said the designated working groups will enable focused study by subject matter experts and improve coordinated responses to complex child welfare, juvenile justice and education issues. She noted the cabinet was established in 2019 and finalized a strategic plan in 2024.

Committee members clarified that the $65,000 appropriation is in the governor's budget (House Bill 1001) and that the committee bill itself will carry no fiscal note because section containing funding will be removed. Members also asked about the cabinet's scope; testimony framed “children” to include ages from infancy through 18 and stressed that a multidisciplinary approach can reduce systems conflict and improve outcomes.

No opposition testimony was recorded during the hearing. The committee closed the hearing after receiving multiple supportive witnesses and the lead author's explanation of the bill's amendments and next‑step fiscal placement.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Education Tuesday, Mar 11, 2025 2:25 PM - 4:01 PM","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 2176 would transfer administration of the state's Children's Cabinet from the Department of Health and Human Services to the governor's office, add designated working groups, and rely on an existing governor's budget line item for $65,000 to support facilitation and ongoing services.","taxTitle","Education, House of Representatives, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28889,"location","North Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6287739,"House Education Committee hears bill to authorize public charter schools in North Dakota (Senate Bill 2241)",4183,171000,4354000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2547126-8582c3417b93ffdaf3bbee5a0eaa09be&start=171&end=4354","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2547126-8582c3417b93ffdaf3bbee5a0eaa09be/thumbnail_171000.jpg","/articles/6287739/North-Dakota/House-Education-Committee-hears-bill-to-authorize-public-charter-schools-in-North-Dakota-Senate-Bill-2241","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6287739-dce1de4190346cf1b547d6d9fec4ced8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771121899&Signature=TGlZoYWRvJLkIcfdSVb0EIz82IwfZ1NkpUUbL5fku-julevPI1IuZiNi2cVr~JFuQsD4McCyDID6cJqbEoV~G~6aaH5VqtBwBADJLKPq5PnzlhzayeI1-imTuowpj2hchtK8mCZ5ZRNhygxC8EBKKt34w-4qwqE421IK-EH4GtFA3DZx0DrL05FxPljZQD2m5GekJKosyIGOBuJGP3WZw3Y8C16Jxw57upQ0HDzZY4ugxk6szSWbsqa5~g0xVDunCTb4nQwSRacEFA~4B0N5brvJUFPmciQsdbHrdqWyxszffdMTxRO5eeDDNjyT-guN2g85rqdrVFoVPYd18PrYaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Michelle Axman, appearing before the House Education Committee, presented Senate Bill 2241 at a committee hearing to create a framework for authorizing, governing and overseeing public charter schools in North Dakota. The bill would place charter school authorization with the state superintendent of public instruction and require performance agreements that set academic, operational and financial expectations.

Axman said charter schools are public schools “There is never a cost to attend. They are open to all students, including students with special needs.” Under the bill, charters must hire licensed North Dakota teachers, follow state academic standards and federal special-education laws such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Section 504, administer state tests, submit to independent financial audits and report data to the state superintendent. The bill also bars virtual-only charters and requires that charter schools not receive local school tax dollars; rather, state per-pupil funding would “follow the student,” the sponsor said.

The measure requires charter applicants to demonstrate community support, and it includes a transparent, randomized lottery for admission when demand exceeds capacity. The bill permits limited preferences — up to 10% of seats — for children of teachers and siblings of enrolled students, and it authorizes cooperative agreements so charter students can participate in athletics and extracurriculars through the North Dakota High School Activities Association.

Proponents argued the legislation would expand schooling options and spur innovation. Lisa Grover of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools said the bill aligns with North Dakota statutes and stressed performance agreements and accountability: “A public charter school does not open without a performance agreement,” she said, describing metrics for proficiency, graduation and student growth that would be monitored under the charter.

Several witnesses described first-hand benefits. Bobby Smith, a teacher at a rural Utah charter school and a North Dakota native, described small classes and personalized learning and urged the committee to allow similar options in the state. Russ Hansen of the Associated General Contractors recounted a construction-themed charter that increased student engagement. Maria Nessett, chief of staff to the lieutenant governor, testified in support and listed potential advantages including tailored curriculum, parental involvement and increased teacher choice.

Opponents included Nick Archuleta, president of North Dakota United, who urged a “do not pass” recommendation and cited national research on charter closures and mixed academic results. Archuleta raised staffing and retirement concerns, noting the bill says charter employees are eligible for state retirement “if the public charter school elects to participate,” calling that an uncertain outcome for teachers’ pensions.

Disability advocates and protection organizations testified about risks to students with disabilities. Roxanne Romanek, representing an organization for people with Down syndrome, and Anna Rackley of the North Dakota Protection and Advocacy Project asked for stronger, explicit provisions on identification, reporting and provision of high‑cost services and on ensuring charter schools join special education units and comply with least‑restrictive‑environment requirements. Rackley and others warned that spreading limited special‑education staff across more schools could reduce capacity in existing districts.

Committee members asked about teacher shortages, facility funding and whether charter schools would exacerbate rural staffing and building needs. Axman said she expects only modest initial growth and that some retired teachers may reenter the classroom; she also noted charter operators must secure their own facilities and cannot rely on bond referenda, though federal grants and nonprofit fundraising are possible.

No committee vote on the bill occurred during the hearing; testimony concluded after supporters and opponents finished. The hearing record includes multiple technical and policy questions that committee members requested staff and proponents to address in follow-up materials.","A committee hearing on Senate Bill 2241 reviewed a proposal to authorize and regulate public charter schools in North Dakota, with sponsors outlining accountability and proponents highlighting options for families while unions and disability advocates raised concerns about staffing, funding, and protections for students with disabilities.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee hears plan to move North Dakota Children's Cabinet to governor's office (Senate Bill 2176)

House Education Committee hears bill to authorize public charter schools in North Dakota (Senate Bill 2241)