The Lakota Board of Education reviewed and approved the district’s 2026–27 program of studies Dec. 15, a 67‑page document staff said is intended as the baseline for annual approval.

Andrew Wheatley, representing the curriculum department, highlighted several changes aimed at increasing rigor and career readiness. "We added AP World History to the freshman level," Wheatley said, and the district will expand AP and CTAG weighted‑credit opportunities where state rules allow. The program also adds AP Music Theory at the high school level and a unique officiating course that allows students to earn officiating credentials and pay while completing schoolwork.

To align with other high‑performing districts, the program moves government from a semester to a year‑long course for improved depth, and it makes English‑learner classes repeatable. Wheatley said financial literacy was removed as a freshman option because teacher feedback and scheduling considerations suggested the material is better delivered later and that freeing freshman slots allows students to enter career and college pathways earlier.

Board members asked about governance and timing; staff said approval was necessary now to get the catalog printed for counselors and course selection in January. Trustees also discussed long‑term graduation‑requirement conversations that could revisit volunteer requirements and economics course structure in future policy reviews.

What’s next: the program will be printed for parents and students; annual review will allow the board to approve incremental changes in future meetings.