Gov. Noem’s scholarship proposal clears first legislative hurdle

PIERRE, S.D. — A scholarship for low-income students has cleared it’s first hurdle in the Legislature.

Governor Noem’s proposal would send 50-million dollars towards a needs-based scholarship endowment. South Dakota is the only state without a significant scholarship endowment for low-income students.

Noem says she’s trying to create a 200-million dollar fund by combining the state money with 150-million dollars from private donors.

The state’s share would come from its federal COVID relief funds.