A proposal to ensure a minimum number of South Dakota educators are involved in the standards writing process was killed in committee.
The seven-member state Board of Education Standards is appointed by the governor. The board was recently in the spotlight following the contentious social studies standards-writing process last year.
This bill, HB 1072 would have mandated a minimum of four certified teachers, administrators or educational professionals be on the board. It was brought by former educator Rep. Roger DeGroot, a Republican from Brookings.
Currently, the makeup of the board includes four educators, though there is no mandate any of those seats must be filled by those in the field.
State Sec. of Education Joe Graves spoke against the bill, describing it as an undue check on the executive branch. The bill failed on a 10-5 vote.