The Appropriations - Education and Environment Division considered Senate Bill 22-34, a proposal to continue Choice Ready grants to school districts, and amended the measure to delete the $1,000,000 appropriation while leaving the grant language intact.

Senator Kyle Davison, District 41, framed the bill as a continuation of Choice Ready grants that the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) previously funded with ESSER dollars to help high schools increase the number of seniors who graduate meeting Choice Ready indicators. "Choice ready is a key metric in the North Dakota accountability system," Jim Uppgren of DPI told the committee, summarizing the framework and explaining prior grant uses such as ACT preparation, dual credit and online courses.

Uppgren told lawmakers the Choice Ready share of the statewide accountability system had climbed since the framework’s inception; DPI reported Choice Ready rates rose from roughly 21% in 2016 to about 71% for the class of 2024. He said the grant program funded a range of discrete uses — ACT tutoring, dual-credit costs, AP exams and career-exploration experiences — and described past caps and spending: early rounds had a $20,000 per-school cap and later targeted grants (ACT prep, online courses, dual credit) had per-program caps around $6,000.

Committee members debated options: Representative Sanford proposed removing the appropriation but leaving the statutory grant authority so DPI could continue the program if it found alternate funding sources. Representative Hansen noted that deleting the appropriation would not eliminate Choice Ready work at DPI because the agency already administers the framework, but it would end the state’s direct grant funding unless other funds were identified.

Representative Sanford moved to remove the $1,000,000 appropriation while preserving the policy language; Representative Lauser seconded. The committee approved the amendment and then gave the bill a due-pass recommendation as amended. Roll call recorded unanimous yes votes from Chairman Naithi; Vice Chair Swontek; Representatives Hansen, Lauser, Martinson, Richter and Sanford.

Clarifying details provided in testimony: DPI said the grants previously were supported by ESSER funds and that the agency had awarded different caps across years (a $20,000 per-school cap in early rounds; later rounds used smaller caps per program). DPI said it has no other state funding currently designated to replace ESSER for Choice Ready grants if an appropriation is not made.

Why it matters: Supporters argued Choice Ready grants provide tangible, targeted supports (ACT prep, dual credit, online courses) that help students meet postsecondary and workforce readiness indicators. Lawmakers weighing broader budget priorities questioned whether the one-million-dollar appropriation should be funded from the state budget when districts and DPI also face other spending needs.

Next steps: The amended bill will proceed to full appropriations. Representative Sanford agreed to carry the matter when it advances.