South Dakota education

A proponent of the new social studies standards offers a statement of support to the state Board of Education on Nov. 21, 2022, in Sioux Falls. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

Birth to 3 sees increase in providers statewide despite lower travel reimbursement rates

BY: - October 20, 2023

Those who opposed the state Board of Education Standards’ 2022 decision to reduce travel reimbursements for providers in South Dakota’s Birth to 3 program said the change would make providers less interested in working with the program. South Dakota Birth to 3 is a federally required program providing developmental and health-related services to infants and […]

Students at the entrance to the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law. (Photo courtesy of USD)

Regents prioritize tuition freeze, civics & quantum computing in 2025 budget request

BY: - July 19, 2023

The South Dakota Board of Regents will ask Gov. Kristi Noem and the Legislature to freeze public university tuition for a fourth year in a row, the organization decided in a special Zoom meeting Wednesday, in addition to requesting funds for other priorities such as a system-wide center for civic engagement. Noem has been a […]

The South Dakota Capitol grounds and lake in Pierre. (John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight)

Committee approves bigger tax cut than Noem’s food tax repeal

BY: - January 31, 2023

A bill that would reduce the state sales and use tax by half a percentage point unanimously passed the House Taxation Committee and will head to House Appropriations. House Bill 1137 is one of many this session proposing to reduce taxes, including one backed by Gov. Noem to eliminate the food sales tax. Noem touted […]

A Sturgis High School student works with a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) lathe. Students use computer-aided design (CAD) to design parts for a variety of equipment in the school's career and technical education program. (Submitted photo)

FarmBots to train students in precision agriculture

BY: - December 9, 2022

Four of the 17 South Dakota schools awarded grant funds for career and technical education (CTE) recently will use the money to buy electric vehicle kits. Two of them will use grant funding to help train students in a more mature technology: precision agriculture. One of the schools that will soon have an EV kit, […]

A Switch vehicle. The vehicle can be built and re-built by high school students. (submitted photo)

Students in four SD districts to build electric vehicles from scratch

BY: - December 9, 2022

There aren’t many electric vehicles (EVs) on the road in South Dakota just yet, which means there isn’t a huge demand for EV-specific mechanics. That’s bound to change as more South Dakotans begin buying EVs. At least four South Dakota school districts are banking on it. High school students in Dell Rapids, Aberdeen, Sturgis and […]