Latest news with #SouthDakotaEducationAssociation
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
South Dakota rises to its highest-ever rank in teacher pay: 46th
Teacher Stephani Brooks works with a small group of students at Journey Elementary School in Sioux Falls on Dec. 5, 2024. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) South Dakota ranks 46th in the nation for average teacher salaries — its highest standing since the National Education Association started ranking states in 1943, according to the South Dakota Education Association. The state previously reached 47th in the 2019 report for the 2017-18 school year, after South Dakota lawmakers approved a half-cent sales tax increase in 2016. The effort poured millions of dollars into school districts with the intent of raising average teacher salaries. The state fell to 50th by the 2021 report and ranked 49th in last year's report. South Dakota saw one of the greatest jumps in standing this year compared to other states, due to a 6% increase in salaries. During the 2022-23 school year, South Dakota's average teacher salary stood at $53,153. In the 2023-24 school year, the average teacher made $56,328. South Dakota Education Association President Loren Paul attributes that to increases in state aid to public education from state lawmakers. Legislators approved a 6% increase in 2022, 7% in 2023 and 4% in 2024. Those infusions were largely due to an influx of federal COVID-19 relief funds into the state budget. Lawmakers also established a minimum teacher salary for districts and tied teacher compensation requirements to state aid increases during the 2024 legislative session. Both were 'strong accountability measures' resulting in 'meaningful gains,' Paul said in a news release. Lawmakers approved a 1.25% increase in education funding this legislative session. The slight increase was approved due to lower-than-anticipated revenue and because COVID funding has run out. Paul warns the slight increase could cause teacher pay to fall further behind inflation. Adjusted for inflation, South Dakota teachers make less than they did a decade ago. 'While we see moving up in rank as good news, we are concerned that lawmakers will take their feet off the gas and salary increases will stall, forcing many teachers to leave the profession because they can't pay their bills,' Paul said. Compared to neighboring states, South Dakota's average teacher pay of $56,328 remains the lowest this year: North Dakota: $58,581. Minnesota: $72,430. Iowa: $62,399. Nebraska: $60,239. Wyoming: $63,669. Montana: $57,556. States that rank lower than South Dakota are Louisiana, West Virginia, Missouri, Florida and Mississippi (there are 51 spots in the rankings, due to the inclusion of Washington, D.C.). Mississippi's average teacher salary of $53,704 is the nation's lowest, according to the report, just a 0.7% increase compared to the previous year's salary. California reports the highest average salary at $101,084 — a 6.2% increase from last year. Oklahoma saw the largest percent change in its salaries at 10.5%, increasing to 35th ($61,330) from 43rd in the rankings. South Dakota's ranking for average starting salary improved to 25th in the nation, at $45,530, which is up from 27th in last year's report. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Public school advocates express worry as Trump moves to close US education department
South Dakota public education advocates are anxious about the impending closure of the U.S. Department of Education, saying they don't see a plan of action for how federal funding will be distributed moving forward. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to dismantle her department and 'return education authority to the states.' The move follows a recent 50% reduction in department staff. Sandra Waltman, director of public affairs for the South Dakota Education Association, described the situation as chaotic, particularly for districts reliant on federal Title I funding that supports schools with high numbers of low-income students. 'If you close down the Department of Education without a plan for ensuring that programs like Title I and special education services continue, then what happens to the students who depend on them?' Waltman said. Public education advocates in South Dakota were already concerned about the sweeping staff reductions to the federal department, warning of potential disruptions to federally funded programs. 'What we need to know is if there's an implementation plan,' said Rob Monson, executive director of School Administrators of South Dakota. 'If not, we're really at a loss for what to do next.' Special education funding is another concern, because federal funding supplements local resources to cover services like specialized teachers, transportation and individualized education plans for students with disabilities. Advocates fear that shifting federal funds into block grants managed by the state — as proposed by some Republican politicians including Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota — could lead to budget cuts at the legislative level. 'My biggest fear is that when you turn this over to the state, it becomes state money, and we know how that can go,' said Dianna Miller, a lobbyist for large public schools in the state. 'We've already had to face education funding cuts this year.' Waltman also warned of the potential ripple effect on South Dakota's universities, whose students rely on federal student loans and grants. 'We're just starting to bounce back in enrollment,' she said. 'If students can't access federal aid, what will that do to our universities?' Monson said uncertainty now looms over school staffing levels and program availability. 'Schools plan their budgets a year in advance, and this kind of uncertainty puts us in a difficult position,' Monson said. 'If federal funding mechanisms change or are delayed, schools will be forced to make staffing adjustments before contract renewals in mid-April. That means potential layoffs and service reductions.' According to the Pew Research Center, South Dakota's K-12 public education system is the nation's second-most reliant on federal aid. The National Education Association reports that annual funding routed through the U.S. Department of Education to South Dakota includes $66.4 for Pell grants to college students, $57.8 million for Title I, $48.1 million from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and $30.7 million in career and technical education grants. U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, who previously introduced legislation to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education, celebrated the news of Trump's order to begin shutting down the agency. 'The federal BUREAUCRACY of Education has never educated a single student. It's time to shut it down,' Rounds said in a news release. 'Today's news is a step in the right direction.' Rounds said he's working on legislation that would return education decisions to states and local school districts while maintaining programs like special education and Title I. 'We are discussing this legislation with Secretary McMahon,' he said, 'and we believe there is a very good path forward.' This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: South Dakota advocates anxious over plan to close education department
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New poll finds many SD voters oppose education savings accounts
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – The topic of education savings accounts or school vouchers is top of mind for many lawmakers and voters in South Dakota this legislative session. Monday, the South Dakota Public Schools Coalition released the findings of a statewide poll. The results are in and according to a survey commissioned by the South Dakota Education Association, many voters in the state oppose the implementation of education savings accounts, also known as school voucher programs. Tribes issuing free ID cards amid ICE raids '58, almost 60, percent are opposed to using tax dollars to send to private schools,' Sandra Waltman, Director of Public Affairs for the SD Education Association, said. 'So that, we think, is a clear majority of the citizens of South Dakota. The voters of South Dakota are not in support of this plan.' The survey found that 57% of voters believe South Dakota public schools do not receive enough funding. 'We hope lawmakers see this poll and realize what voters really want them to focus on is making sure our public schools are funded,' Waltman said. House Bill 1020, which would allocate $4 million for students to attend private or home schools, was introduced to legislators earlier this month. It is currently waiting to be read by the House Education Committee. 'This is going to be a debate throughout the legislative session and we would encourage everybody to talk to their lawmakers about why their local public schools are important to their communities,' Waltman said. The poll was conducted by American Viewpoint between January 13 and January 15, 2025, with a sample of 500 general election voters. We reached out to Representative Scott Odenbach, the prime sponsor of HB 1020 to get his thoughts on the poll's findings — he pointed us in the direction of a different poll that found many voters did support school vouchers. That survey was conducted in November 2023. Odenbach's full statement is below: 'There are a variety of polls out there regarding support for school choice in South Dakota. I'm not surprised this coalition came up with one that gave the result they seek. I am curious how much taxpayer money they ended up spending on this push poll. I would encourage you to investigate that, as well as the taxpayer money they spend lobbying. As I shared with you earlier today, other polls have shown around 50% of the voters support school choice, and support rises to around 65% among registered Republicans. School choice is an issue whose time has come, and I will continue to support these needed changes to the way we educate our kids. We must fund students, not systems and allow parents to decide which education environment is best for their children. Property tax payers should also understand that the majority of their taxes go to fund the local schools and so if we ever want meaningful property tax relief we must address the ever-growing spending and force the public schools to innovate and decentralize. HB1020 and education savings accounts start us down that path.' Rep. Scott Odenbach (R) Lawrence County In a follow-up statement, Odenbach said HB 1020 is also supported by Gov. Larry Rhoden and the SD Department of Education as well as the majority leaders for both the House and Senate, the Speaker of the House and the Senate President Pro Tempore. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
