SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 4

         A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION,  Supporting adequate funding for vocational-technical education programs in South Dakota.

     WHEREAS,  the 1995 Legislature enacted a new method of distributing general state aid to school districts and this new method changed support for secondary education programs; and

     WHEREAS,  secondary vocational-technical education programs are a critical link to community and state workforce development goals; and

     WHEREAS,  a well-educated and skilled workforce is vital to the economic development of local communities and the state of South Dakota; and

     WHEREAS,  fiscal challenges can cause individual school districts to reduce or eliminate funding for certain vocational-technical programs due to the high costs sometimes associated with the special equipment and facilities they require; and

     WHEREAS,  a significant number of high school graduates go directly into articulated postsecondary education or employment opportunities:

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED,  by the Senate of the Seventy-seventh Legislature of the State of South Dakota, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that the South Dakota Legislature supports the adequate funding of approved secondary vocational-technical education programs.

Adopted by the Senate,
Concurred in by the House of Representatives,

Carole Hillard President of the Senate	Patricia Adam Secretary of the Senate
Scott Eccarius Speaker of the House	Karen Gerdes Chief Clerk of the House