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SDPB Radio Coverage of the South Dakota Legislature. See all coverage and find links to audio and video streams live from the Capitol at www.sdpb.org/statehouse

Testing Exemption Bill Dies In Committee

Lawmakers shot down a proposal to allow parents to keep their kids out of standardized tests. House Bill 1187 exempts students with a notarized request from their parents.

State Representative Dan Kaiser says the bill centers on parental rights.

"We’ve heard testimony that this does not affect their grades, them progressing through the educational process," Kaiser says. "So, I think in a free society, we need to allow for sometimes things we don’t necessarily agree with. Why would I not want my child to take this assessment? You know, I’m not too sure. But I think that needs to be open for parents whose ideology maybe doesn’t fit the same as this assessment may imply."

Opponents to the measure say allowing exemptions from the annual standardized test undermines the results.

One vote determined the majority in Monday’s committee; the Education panel killed House Bill 1187.

Kealey Bultena grew up in South Dakota, where her grandparents took advantage of the state’s agriculture at nap time, tricking her into car rides to “go see cows.” Rarely did she stay awake long enough to see the livestock, but now she writes stories about the animals – and the legislature and education and much more. Kealey worked in television for four years while attending the University of South Dakota. She started interning with South Dakota Public Broadcasting in September 2010 and accepted a position with television in 2011. Now Kealey is the radio news producer stationed in Sioux Falls. As a multi-media journalist, Kealey prides herself on the diversity of the stories she tells and the impact her work has on people across the state. Kealey is always searching for new ideas. Let her know of a great story! Find her on Facebook and twitter (@KealeySDPB).