Senate Education Committee kills bill that would have lowered South Dakota’s mandatory school attendance age

PIERRE, S.D. (SDBA) — Legislators killed a bill that would have lowered South Dakota’s mandatory school attendance age from 18 to 16.

SB 65 was before the Senate Education Committee.

Republican Sen. Lee Schoenbeck of Watertown, the bill’s sponsor, said that the public schools have become the new place to house juvenile offenders.

These students, he said, are disrupting the educational experience of both students and teachers.

Several educational groups opposed the bill.

However, the committee also heard from a Watertown Arrow Success Academy student who said having to stay in school until 18 changed her life.

Much of the committee discussion before the vote centered on possible juvenile justice system reforms and alternative pathways to a high school diploma or other certification.

The committee voted 5 to 1 to send the measure to the 41st legislative day, effectively killing it.