A Bismarck lawmaker has introduced a bill to give parents who send their children to non-public schools an income tax credit.
Rep. Mark Dosch (R-Bismarck) says it would be a $2500 credit. Dosch says one of the big reasons he introduced the bill is to save the state money on what it pays public schools – which is close to $10,000 per pupil.
"We have 13,000 new students coming to North Dakota schools," said Dosch. "The cost to the state would be over $130 million. So the whole purpose of this bill is -- if we can offer a little bit of an incentive to these parents to ask them to consider a non-public option."
Dosch says for every child that moves to a non-public school, the state would save a net of $7500.
"We're saying to a parent, 'You can keep some of your money, if you take on the responsibility to pay for your own child's education," said Dosch. "It allows that parent a little bit of choice."
Dosch says it also gives low to middle income people some help to send their children to the non-public schools.
