Secretary of Education Rick Melmer tells it like it is:
State Education Secretary Rick Melmer testified Thursday he believes South Dakota's school districts get enough money.
"Do I believe they're adequately funded? The answer is yes," Melmer said in the trial of a lawsuit challenging the state's education funding system.
Melmer was called as a witness by lawyers representing parents and children who filed the lawsuit. They are supported by nearly 100 of the state's 168 school districts. The education secretary also will testify as an expert witness for the state when state lawyers start presenting their defense to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit alleges the state is violating the South Dakota Constitution by underfunding public school districts, but the state contends the funding system is constitutional and provides students with adequate opportunity.
Melmer said he does not believe more money would necessarily lead to a boost in education quality in South Dakota schools.
"I really see no correlation that links the funding of schools to achievement," Melmer said.
Additional money can provide more programs, but that will not automatically increase student achievement, Melmer said. "There's no guarantee just because you provide programs that students will perform at any particular level."
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