Sioux Falls board adopts K–12 social studies curriculum for 2026–27 school year

The Sioux Falls School District board approved the K–12 social studies curriculum for the 2026–27 school year following an 11-page adoption report and multi-year review process presented by Dr. Zeek.

Dr. Zeek said the curriculum’s vision is to prepare students “to become informed and engaged citizens who uphold equality and democratic principles across economics, civics, geography, and history,” and that the district’s mission is to “prepare students to succeed in a changing world by fostering critical thinking through social studies.” The adoption aligns the district’s pacing guides and instructional frameworks with the 2023 South Dakota social studies content standards and the Oceti Sakowin essential understandings and standards.

Administrators told the board the elementary adoption will use Studies Weekly periodicals; the district purchased Spanish-language versions for Spanish-immersion classes at a cost of $86,000. Dr. Zeek said the initial elementary adoption is a five-year cycle with the district planning to move to an eight-year rotation after confirming state support and the availability of materials.

Board members asked about budget implications and state involvement. One board member said the district had to do “a lot” of local work to fit statewide materials into classroom schedules and expressed disappointment that earlier statewide rollout did not fully incorporate local feedback from the district’s Indian education office, though that office’s Oceti Sakowin lessons were later embedded in pacing guides.

The board moved to adopt the K–12 social studies curriculum for 2026–27 and approved the recommendation by voice vote; the transcript does not include an exact roll-call tally.

District officials said the curriculum package will be accompanied by professional development and curriculum maps to help teachers integrate social studies with reading instruction in elementary grades.