[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6355487,"mediaKeyId","2218374-201169ec8652faa2bbdf807ca49d478e","parentId",2218374,"title","Department of Education outlines FY2026 budget, highlights literacy grant and teacher-recruitment efforts","audioSeconds",3676,"startMs",609000,"endMs",4285000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2218374-201169ec8652faa2bbdf807ca49d478e&start=609&end=4285","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2218374-201169ec8652faa2bbdf807ca49d478e/thumbnail_609000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6355487/South-Dakota/Department-of-Education-outlines-FY2026-budget-highlights-literacy-grant-and-teacher-recruitment-efforts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6355487-2445c01d7b07660352b6e38b55edd53c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156709&Signature=F5Y4X-kGi-EWyz4YsJGjErQf3nzQD-zCNFZktT40oDgtSF-sAWVEpaFy6sxWavPDg1vPPU1cPWBySYEH8---1~aRyKkQD0RX2Evg1VXlhjTDeGPvZ9tv7DlJKUjFyQzd9-x4-Wn5IGfUiScc9DRBdsB75~moHgR~9dDm0w6~t4vvgO1o-qdglxvjPuKcQp~oVQlWa~JVXIHDIRtvPTAmxhcoWI8qGJwIZlWYOZ-tQyddSJeBPeQzPO1CfouiPC3ePOYauit1cinZNzgOIwTWSz5HFlDWq4TgdnV7PEyegzVL2FKuH0jhx5d2UtQrwDNlwLpm3I3ulpzHJgOMrr9ONg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","State of South Dakota","date","2025-02-04T00:00:00Z","article","The South Dakota Department of Education on Monday presented its governor\u000fs FY2026 budget recommendation and a package of initiatives focused on literacy, teacher recruitment and retention, social studies implementation and student engagement.

Secretary of Education Joseph Graves told the Joint Committee on Appropriations the total recommended DOE budget is about $1.013 billion, most of which passes through to districts; the agency\u000fs operating budget is roughly $47 million.

Graves highlighted the department\u000fs statewide literacy work grounded in the Science of Reading (SOR). \"Literacy is the foundation for all learning,\" Secretary Graves said, describing SOR as a five-part approach that emphasizes phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension. The department said a federal award totaling roughly $54 million will support local district implementation; DOE requested about $13.275 million in federal authority for year two of that grant and noted the state previously provided $6 million to support teacher training.

The presentation covered several other priorities: a request for a 1.25% inflationary increase to K-12 state aid and several program increases and decreases across DOE. The department proposed a $4 million Education Savings Account appropriation (about $1 million for administration and $3 million for family accounts), an increase of $30,000 for the JAG (Jobs for America's Graduates) affiliation fee (to $55,000 annually) to sustain national network membership, and a small general-fund increase to support the dual-credit technology system used to manage reduced-tuition billing for students enrolled in college courses.

On teacher recruitment and retention, Graves reviewed an apprenticeship pathway that enrolls paraeducators and others to complete teaching credentials. The department reported 51 districts participated in cohort 1 and 55 districts in cohort 2; cohort 1 approved roughly 90 participants (about twice that number applied), cohort 2 approved about 85. Secretary Graves said seven cohort-1 participants have already completed and entered teaching and the department expects about 56 more to complete in May. The department also relaxed student-teacher payment rules and expanded advanced student-teacher permits.

Graves said attendance and chronic absenteeism remain concerns. The department reported an elementary/middle attendance rate of about 92% before the pandemic and about 87% in 2023-24 (a drop of roughly five percentage points). Federal ESSER-funded chronic absenteeism pilots ran in several districts; DOE said it compiled findings from those pilots to guide statewide practice.

The department\u000fs JAG program served 566 students this academic year, according to Graves; the department described retention and post-high-school outcomes for JAG participants as well above state averages and requested ongoing funding to continue expansion.

Graves also described a governor-recommended reduction package that includes proposed cuts to the state library (a reduction of $1,030,267 in ongoing general funds and about $1.399 million in federal authority) and other program adjustments. He said the Cultural Heritage Center renovation remains a special-appropriation request of $1.5 million and that its final completion is expected in spring 2026 if funded.

Committee members asked multiple follow-ups about math instruction research, the role of the Common Core in state standards, the reach of the literacy federal grant, participation rates for social-studies professional development, district participation in apprenticeship cohorts and the accuracy of vacancy counts. Graves said long-term vacancy data are maintained by the Associated School Boards of South Dakota and estimated roughly 200 vacancies statewide, but noted district reporting practices can make that figure imprecise.

Procedural notes: the committee approved minutes from its Feb. 3 meeting by voice vote after a motion from Senator Kent Juhnke (mover identified in the hearing as Senator Lapka) and a second from Representative Monke; the committee later adjourned on a motion from Senator Vojta (motion recorded as from Senator Voda in minutes) seconded by Representative May; both motions carried.

Why it matters: the Governor\u000fs recommended budget shapes agency authority and pass-through funding to districts. The literacy grant and investments in teacher pipelines aim to affect classroom instruction statewide, while the proposed state-library reduction prompted public comment (see separate article on library testimony). Ending DOE\u000fs presentation, members signaled follow-up questions and requested more data on specific program outcomes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Joint Committee on Appropriations - Day 14","oneSentenceSummary","Secretary Joseph Graves told the Joint Committee on Appropriations the department's FY2026 recommended budget totals about $1.013 billion, with a roughly $47 million operating budget and major investments in a Science of Reading literacy grant, teacher apprenticeships and student engagement programs.","taxTitle","2025 Legislative SD, South Dakota","taxId",77845,"location","South Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6355467,"School for the Blind and Visually Impaired describes on-campus, residential and outreach services",2293,7554000,9847000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2218374-201169ec8652faa2bbdf807ca49d478e&start=7554&end=9847","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2218374-201169ec8652faa2bbdf807ca49d478e/thumbnail_7554000.jpg","/articles/6355467/South-Dakota/School-for-the-Blind-and-Visually-Impaired-describes-on-campus-residential-and-outreach-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6355467-f6d1d7c25a05d7437012c1e12b8494e1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156709&Signature=obyISdC~C9DNzCRxchtgh3RVXJBmYNeJO4iGJtypp7frGiYrIL8hqTvtsT-alBqIwmZdooPwlifTOXF4C9FFaw7z3o9FFc5R0oBrT~ebuOCpU-0tTnL-t7KKtD8gjvNbyb~938GB83jVFtqW-v473Zde7zWL3~yXtMCT4tr~SB3V8kNGUieHhjMtyHTfcpSIzXc5zp2-MCH04LLqKBcOrT8w1HnKwy2tHQphqM2NfFx6DTarwcoUqZD9r0Im~AgZ-FGxpgLbA1ciu2BrGrK1l-44Ol6XALNP4D0seOUm-boZMJ0c-re7uznbZkeh5PilP~X5gsK2ArPbQQG9Q935wg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jessica Vogel, superintendent of the South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, briefed the Joint Committee on Appropriations on the program\u000fs instructional, residential and outreach services.

Vogel said the Aberdeen campus provides an educational day program for students ages 3 to 21 and that the school currently has 23 students on campus. The school maintains a residential program for students who live too far to commute daily; staff reported the residential roster and supports have grown modestly.

The school reported 189 students received outreach services last year through five outreach consultants positioned around the state; Vogel said an open western-South-Dakota outreach slot had been vacant for about a year and is a difficult position to recruit for given the specialized skills required. Vogel said the school also provides tailored academic assessments, birth-to-3 services, and a summer program; last summer the summer program served 30 students.

Budget note: Vogel told the committee most school funding is general fund appropriations (referenced in the governor\u000fs budget brief on page 85). She described careful vacancy management, limited technology upgrades (a recent $12,000 computer update through Northern State University\u000fs IT services) and prudent use of staff reassignment to maintain core services.

Why it matters: the School for the Blind provides instruction and specialized assessments not widely available in general-education settings; its outreach staff and summer programming supplement district services for students with visual impairments.","Superintendent Jessica Vogel summarized Aberdeen campus programs for students ages 3\u000f21, residential services, outreach consultants and a growing summer program; the school served 189 students via outreach last year and hosted 30 students in the summer program.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6355472,"South Dakota Services for the Deaf details mobile audiology clinic and statewide outreach",689,5692000,6381000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2218374-201169ec8652faa2bbdf807ca49d478e&start=5692&end=6381","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2218374-201169ec8652faa2bbdf807ca49d478e/thumbnail_5692000.jpg","/articles/6355472/South-Dakota/South-Dakota-Services-for-the-Deaf-details-mobile-audiology-clinic-and-statewide-outreach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6355472-c0c6bf1da3bc2bfc7a053e7bbf518120/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156709&Signature=aI0N4Wm~eThP7CBis~cRKKmqZs1BuDQlRe3sTClg89EEafd7320Ofpt0Yi2288XzUfBiIuSvXAut4sDBZMEmCwt~TtWVEV6VGP2YPLLsgvrz6fDRYg2Cv0F-x7QLJDriWaln6DA1CbkxKud6tVZTUFYe-Xs3yhPPhCvyr4NPRn0Z43Dy-muZSQNATvN1Kgx3TB-Z160raM0Spep9NpnHhZQRYMYsQOgPfhQsrE3UQZgJpwRw9RqIZIAbS-HJC4GiCQbDKRESRaNlWiH7ZaTcQgDVZ22eqCwe-xnc7DgdLQs1YjiORPSbOn0dWbhautIQKTEffPjpa5KSfhPu7p3EFQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cammie Van Sickle, director of South Dakota Services for the Deaf (SDSD), briefed the appropriations committee on outreach, audiology and direct-service work that the agency provides to families and schools statewide.

SDSD operates pediatric audiology clinics in Rapid City and Sioux Falls and employs audiology assistants who travel to schools and daycares to provide hearing screenings. Van Sickle told the committee SDSD\u000fs audiology assistants conducted nearly 27,000 screenings last year at 229 locations, an increase of about 5,000 screenings compared with the prior year.

Van Sickle introduced SDSD\u000fs new mobile audiology lab, a custom vehicle equipped with a built-in sound booth. The mobile clinic provided 74 comprehensive hearing evaluations at 30 schools after it entered service last summer, she said, and the department expects those numbers to rise after hiring a third pediatric audiologist.

SDSD also described an outreach program that last year sent 13 deaf educators and speech-language pathologists across the state to provide consultative services free to families, schools and daycares. The department reported it closed the prior year with 691 children on its master list, up from about 329 in 2009, reflecting rising referrals from audiologists, birth-to-3 programs and districts.

Van Sickle detailed SDSD\u000fs summer and family-connection programming, multidisciplinary testing partnerships with 15 districts, and a shared-reading project that trains caregivers to use American Sign Language during read-alouds to support early literacy.

Budget note: SDSD told the committee its FY2025 funding is roughly $3.5 million, composed primarily of general funds (about 87%), with the remainder from schools and public-lands revenue and lease payments for Sioux Falls facilities. The governor recommended a modest general-fund increase of about $3,286 to cover utilities for FY2026.

Why it matters: SDSD provides screening, diagnostic and consultative supports that local districts often cannot staff, particularly in rural areas; the mobile clinic and outreach work aim to reduce travel barriers for families and to identify hearing issues earlier.","Director Cammie Van Sickle described audiology screenings, outreach consultative services and a new mobile audiology lab that expands access in rural schools; SDSD reported nearly 27,000 screenings and a master caseload increase to 691 children statewide.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6355477,"Board of Technical Education seeks equipment funding, warns of M&R cut impacts and outlines enrollment goals",3665,5420000,9085000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2218374-201169ec8652faa2bbdf807ca49d478e&start=5420&end=9085","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2218374-201169ec8652faa2bbdf807ca49d478e/thumbnail_5420000.jpg","/articles/6355477/South-Dakota/Board-of-Technical-Education-seeks-equipment-funding-warns-of-MR-cut-impacts-and-outlines-enrollment-goals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6355477-a82bf755490bee6d3184ccea93422382/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156709&Signature=kv-SLq5J3N6LoRPyJsIzeG~RXzXMsyCcqDXv0AsrJxOY2-v1JzNV~zVw5C4PAqc0-s4LRU-3W~twEf-5Kc5oOFKIwxC~zz9E1fP7XsWN-Zz--5M2vR5mtqLPJxXPy-fVtV8HKrD3-a1dZRDjGER5Mwl0S0NBi2xFGgN5jqcDkoVPX-nF35E9rMfvktUIGqJGZtW4ZaypZNV3qtqwVnfUzvj2V3HrlFpjSUaOzlhvy8wPHiPB9AscT3RUF8BUaK~rNsQBZweYHuPbCi3Q92YysGHde1GTDZw9S3z3H8TOw64oskDtIGJMa-LzzG6BGZj3Of7fgLAi93k--kNsIqS8SQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The South Dakota Board of Technical Education and leaders from the state\u000fs four technical colleges presented requested FY2026 appropriations and system priorities, telling the Joint Committee on Appropriations they want to grow graduate output and maintain campuses and equipment.

Nick Wendel, executive director of the Board of Technical Education, said the technical college system produced 2,464 graduates in academic year 2023-24 and reported a full-time-equivalent (FTE) head count of 5,758. \"We have a goal to produce more than 3,000 graduates per year by the end of the decade,\" Wendel said, adding that 2023 cohort placement outcomes exceeded 99 percent for employment, continuing education or military service within six months of graduation.

Wendel asked the committee to approve a 1.25% inflationary increase to the per-student allocation, which would raise the FY2026 per-FTE rate to $6,324.04. The board noted that the per-student allocation covers basic institutional operating costs across the four colleges.

The board warned of the impact of a recommended reduction to maintenance and repair (M&R) funding. Under prior policy the state targeted an annual investment equal to roughly 2% of replacement value for state-owned facilities; the governor\u000fs FY2026 recommendation reduces that target to about 1.25%, producing an $824,000 cut to the system\u000fs M&R appropriation. Wendel said campuses allocate state M&R by square footage of state-owned facilities and that a reduction of that size would force deferral of projects or an increase in the student M&R fee (currently $6 per credit hour), a step the board had not previously taken.

The board also described two pending bills. House Bill 1114 would provide one-time equipment funding of roughly $6.7 million, matched by about $3.3 million in local funds, to update laboratory equipment across career clusters (automotive, healthcare, precision machining, building trades and others). Wendel said the board intends to provide an itemized list linking equipment to program priorities. House Bill 1110 would request an appropriation to purchase the Health Care Simulation Center at Southeast Technical College; the board said it would present details on that bill in future committee sessions.

Presidents from Lake Area, Southeast, Mitchell and Western Dakota technical colleges described industry partnerships, Build Dakota scholarship placements, and housing constraints. Southeast Technical College reported 159 new Build Dakota scholarship recipients this year with an industry sponsor and more than 300 students on campus receiving Build Dakota awards; presidents said industry-sponsored scholarships and local employer demand help retain graduates in South Dakota communities.

Campus leaders repeatedly raised housing as a barrier to growth: the colleges said private housing markets constrain enrollment growth, and they noted a state statute in Title 13 that limits post-secondary institutions\u000f ability to own or operate residence facilities, forcing reliance on private developers.

Why it matters: technical colleges train a high share of the state\u000fs skilled workforce. The M&R funding level affects campus safety and program equipment in fast-changing career fields; equipment funding is central to expanding capacity for programs that align with employer demand.","Board and technical college presidents presented FY2026 requests including a 1.25% per-student allocation increase, concern over a proposed cut to maintenance-and-repair funding, one-time equipment funding bill (HB1114) and a separate bill (HB1110) to buy a health-simulation center.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6355482,"Dozens of librarians urge committee to restore State Library funding, cite cost efficiencies",636,4345000,4981000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2218374-201169ec8652faa2bbdf807ca49d478e&start=4345&end=4981","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2218374-201169ec8652faa2bbdf807ca49d478e/thumbnail_4345000.jpg","/articles/6355482/South-Dakota/Dozens-of-librarians-urge-committee-to-restore-State-Library-funding-cite-cost-efficiencies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6355482-43915b00e644477f2bbf5fc5a4f66705/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156709&Signature=HQVXyDrTHkMoSKr4HOz0y-ccdPDpz1LE7MYHRhbmzxf8V179B4-TNyfMxrmPHSuuqo0aglEBETwmsUP~W4~tRizi3rmDTYTkJoThG-Y1WHGgUHeBY4a-7YYzYOH5moWhcKdtq08n10IS0xU46As9KFqE0sapeoiUKrzSl4mVpdlpOy~SYj60Ew1zxFh63u-fuZJVAbuZGWI2Vd8O-AeSgR3Bq6fD7VJCgv6iKtyxg071cQ~iPibLXd8vKp29Vm4hPAS6GqO5rzaGnfYWTPjZoI~WPDp05MeWPay~haQ~b6IBE6403WCVmE5MrNTb2bXqCwnwXqCJn73ZZ0NGz-SFNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of librarians, trustees and library directors addressed the Joint Committee on Appropriations to urge restoration of proposed cuts to the State Library budget.

Elizabeth Fox, president of the South Dakota Library Association, told the committee the State Library provides 54 databases to schools and libraries statewide and highlighted one subscription\u0000Swank\u0000used for classroom film streaming. \"The State Library pays $137,800 a year for this database,\" Fox said. \"If that goes away and each individual district has to pay for the database, the cost would be $355,865. If the districts choose not to get it and individual schools have to subscribe to this database, the cost would be $760,830.\" She urged the committee to restore State Library funding to preserve statewide economies of scale.

Speakers who identified themselves from more than 20 public and school libraries gave short \"me too\" statements after Fox\u000fs remarks, telling committee members how the State Library supports classroom resources, professional development and small rural libraries that could not individually afford subscription services. Testimony included directors from Miller, Mitchell, Sioux Falls, Huron, Watertown, Custer, Vermillion, Spearfish, Belle Fourche and other towns; several directors noted the State Library provides training and certification for local library staff.

Dora Sandmertz, the school section chair for the South Dakota Library Association and former Custer County Library director, told the committee the State Library\u000fs overall budget has increased modestly since 2005 and that much of the funding comes from federal sources; she called the State Library \"one of the leaner, more efficient divisions\" within state government.

Why it matters: multiple testifiers told the committee that a centralized State Library makes statewide licensing of databases affordable and provides training and materials that small and rural districts cannot easily replace. Committee members noted the testimony and asked that lead speakers sign in for the record.

The testimony came immediately after the Department of Education presentation; the public record of statements will be used in upcoming budget deliberations.","Library directors and trustees from across South Dakota told the appropriations committee proposed cuts to the State Library would raise local costs and reduce services; speakers highlighted shared statewide subscriptions and local reliance on State Library resources.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Department of Education outlines FY2026 budget, highlights literacy grant and teacher-recruitment efforts

School for the Blind and Visually Impaired describes on-campus, residential and outreach services

South Dakota Services for the Deaf details mobile audiology clinic and statewide outreach

Board of Technical Education seeks equipment funding, warns of M&R cut impacts and outlines enrollment goals

Dozens of librarians urge committee to restore State Library funding, cite cost efficiencies