SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - The Democratic and Republican candidates for South Dakota's lone U.S. House seat said Friday that the Obama administration's shift to federal education funding based on competitive grants puts rural states at a disadvantage.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin and Republican challenger Kristi Noem debated education issues and funding Friday at the convention of the Associated School Boards of South Dakota and School Administrators of South Dakota.
Herseth Sandlin is being challenged by Noem and independent candidate B. Thomas Marking, who did not participate in the debate.
The two candidates fielded questions on such topics as the federal No Child Left Behind law, funding for students with disabilities and competitive grants programs such as the Education