K-12

South Dakota has 152 public K-12 schools, 49 non-public schools and 20 tribal schools. During the last couple years, the state has not been immune to the nation’s struggle to recover from one of the largest economic downturns in history. Budget shortfalls at every level of government have called into question how public education should be evaluated, funded and improved.

Leaders within the state have had their own disagreements about equal access to education and funding, which played itself out in a lawsuit against the state when a group of parents said education in South Dakota is inadequately funded.

While Congress debates how to move forward with the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind, South Dakota Secretary of Education Melody Schopp has decided to hold its goals for proficiency in reading and math at 2009-10 levels and reduce its graduation rate goal to 80 percent from the current target of 85 percent. At the current rate, the No Child Left Behind law expects every child to be proficient or advanced in math and reading by 2014.

The Department of Education has received widespread support for the decision, both from superintendents, as well as teachers and parents, who say they would like to see a number of changes in the state’s public education system. Associated School Boards of South Dakota, a non-profit association, and Zogby International, conducted a survey in 2010 that asked respondents a number of questions related to their view of education in the state. When grading schools based on the quality of education students receive, most of the survey participants gave schools in their community an A or B, but said a lack of funding and difficulty hiring teachers has hampered schools’ efforts. Check out the full Zogby report, “Public Views: K-12 Education in South Dakota." Also, in September 2011, the Dakota Poll surveyed South Dakotans on the subject of education. The results reveal widespread support for the state's schools.