South Dakota Republicans plan to introduce legislation for a needs based scholarship. Sponsors of the bill say it would give some financial strapped students a chance at higher education. State Senate Majority Leader Russell Olson says this bill would help South Dakota grow its higher education.
"I think a needs based scholarship that works both in post secondary education on the regental and the tech school sides will benefit south Dakota and will actually remove us from being the only state in the nation that doesn’t have a needs based scholarship," says Olson.
South Dakota Democrats hardily endorse funding for a needs based scholarship. But Democrats add that an increase in base level funding is needed for the entire education system in the state.