News

News Headlines

9/2/2022
News Headlines

Apr. 11, 2023 – Superintendents join call against South Dakota’s proposed social studies standards – Argus Leader
South Dakota’s School Superintendents Association signed onto an open letter opposing South Dakota’s current set of proposed social studies standards Tuesday.


Feb 28, 2023 – Social Studies Standards Debate in SD Enters Home Stretch – Public News Source 
Opponents accuse Gov. Kristi Noem's administration of politicizing the process by leaning on out-of-state voices to craft the latest plan, including a private conservative college in Michigan. Those leading the effort defend the criteria, saying it focuses on key content early in a child's education and reintroduces them with greater detail as the student gets older.


Feb 10, 2023 – Educators and parents protest proposed social studies standards – KOTA Territory TV
“Parents and teachers were not involved in this set of proposed social studies standards, and that’s an issue because the parents and teachers are the ones that’ll be living these standards another issue we have with the standards is a lot of them are misplaced within the gray bands and our younger students will be learning things like politics and warfare that are just not appropriate for there age group,” said Rapid City teacher Jennifer Macziewski.

Feb 8, 2023 – MACZIEWSKI: Social studies standards are not feasible – Rapid City Journal
I am a passionate teacher of early learners. Last year I was recognized as regional teacher of the year.

I strongly oppose the social studies content standards currently being considered by the South Dakota Board of Education Standards. To understand why, let me tell you more about a typical day in my classroom.

Feb 2, 2023 – SD educators worry new bill would lessen public school funding – Keloland
“This would be another hit to our public schools who are trying to make do, and who do a very good job, but with limited resources,” Sandra Waltman, Director of Government Relations and Communications with the SD Education Association, said.


Feb 2, 2023 – SD House Republican lawmakers want school choice in state – Dakota News Now 
“Let’s be clear, these two bills are voucher bills,” said Sandra Waltman, Government Relations and Communications Director for the South Dakota Education Association (SDEA). “Vouchers are when we take your tax dollars and give them to private schools, who get to pick and choose who their students are.”

Jan 30, 2023 – COUNTERPOINT: 'School choice' equals vouchers – The Dakota Scout
Let’s be clear, phrases such as “educational freedom” or “school choice” are just another way of saying vouchers, which take your tax dollars away from your local public schools and give them to private schools to pay for the students they choose to educate.


Jan 10, 2023 – Social Studies Standards public hearing moved & teachers feel left out – Keloland
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — The South Dakota Board of Education Standards has changed the location and moved the date of its next hearing on proposed content standards for social studies. The move has left many teachers frustrated.


Nov 16, 2022 – Educators speak out against new social studies standards – Dakota News Now
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) -A number of school districts in the Sioux Falls area will be hosting walk-ins while also supporting American Education Week in the mornings before school.

Nov 16, 2022 – Teachers in Harrisburg, Tea, Sioux Falls hold 'walk-ins' against social studies standards  – Argus Leader
Dozens of teachers in Harrisburg, Tea and Sioux Falls stood outside of their school buildings in the cold part of Wednesday morning before the bells rang, holding signs with messages like “Where’s the South Dakota history?” and “Age-appropriate learning for our students.”

Oct 25, 2022 – Cost a focus ahead of second social studies standards meeting – Keloland
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — As the debate around the proposed social studies standards will shift to Sioux Falls, school districts are taking a look at the impact new standards may have on local curriculums. 


Sept 26, 2022 – South Dakota Schools Social Studies Standards Educators Share Concerns – Argus Leader
Former social studies workgroup members also stood in opposition to the proposed standards, as Andrea Stanosheck, Sherry Johnson, Kesley Lovseth and Sherri Rawstern from the…

Sept 24, 2022 – KRAUSE: New social studies proposal is no joke – Rapid City Journal
South Dakota’s newly proposed social studies content standards could easily be mistaken for a bad joke. Unfortunately, the proposal is very serious.


Sept 20, 2022 – SD Holds First Public Hearing in Social Studies Standards Debate – Public News Source
A South Dakota education panel has kicked off the public-hearing phase in the state's latest effort to update social studies standards. Many perspectives were offered during Monday's meeting, including opposition from teachers.

Sept 19, 2022 – Supporters, opponents react to new SD social studies standards at first public comment event – Mitchell Republic
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The first of four public hearings on the planned changes to South Dakota’s social studies curriculum laid bare the major points of contention between proponents and opponents, including whether the material would be too difficult for students, whether it stymies critical thinking and if there is a political distortion to the standards.

Sept 19, 2022 – State board hears views on SD social-studies standards – Keloland
ABERDEEN, S.D. (KELO) — A state panel that decides grade by grade on the goals of what students should be taught in South Dakota K-12 schools spent more than three hours Monday listening to people’s views of the latest version of proposed social-studies standards.

Sept 18, 2022 – South Dakota educators raise concerns with proposed social studies standards process – Dakota News Now
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) - Educators all across South Dakota have been anticipating new social studies standards ever since the ones proposed in 2021 were withdrawn due to public backlash.


Sept 15, 2022 – AHA Sends Letter to South Dakota Board of Education Opposing Social Studies Standards Revision Process (2022)  – American Historical Society
The American Historical Association (AHA) registers strong concern regarding the social standards revisions process undertaken by the Board of Education in 2022. The proposed standards and the process by which they have been developed fail to meet the AHA’s Criteria for Standards in History/Social Studies/Social Sciences.

Conservative college’s curriculum gets foothold in S. Dakota
  – AP NEWS
Sept 12, 2022 – SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A few days before middle school teacher Shaun Nielsen joined a work group to develop South Dakota’s social studies standards, he got a thick package in the mail.

SDEA probes 'age appropriateness' of proposed social studies standards – Argus Leader
SDEA probes 'age appropriateness' of proposed social studies standards ... 

South Dakota education social studies standards redo sparks controversy – Dakota News Now
Aug. 25, 2022 – SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Every seven years, the State of South Dakota reviews its social studies standards for public...

First look at new social studies standards proposal for SD ... – KELO
Aug 15, 2022 – The 120-page proposal was drafted by the Social Studies Content Standards Commission through the Department of Education. Among the 15 members ...

Education groups eye new social studies standards – KELO
Aug 16, 2022 – A plan that outlines what students need to learn about social studies in South Dakota is up for public comment. And not everyone is on ...

South Dakota unveils draft social studies standards  – NEWCENTER1
Aug 15, 2022 – South Dakota unveils draft social studies standards. Draft incorporates civics, Native American history throughout a student's career.

Social Studies revision process will cost nearly $500K  – KELO
Aug 31, 2022 – SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – On October 1, 2021, South Dakota Governor ... of the state's social studies content standards would take place, ...

South Dakota Dept. of Education new social studies standards ...  – Argus Leader
Aug 15, 2022 – New social studies standards should be 'free from political agendas and activism,' DOE draft states. Morgan Matzen. Sioux Falls Argus Leader.

Education Association: Proposed standards too difficult for ...  – Mitchell Republic
Aug 18, 2022 – Leaders in the South Dakota's education association feel early learners will be challenged only to memorize information while older students ...

SDEA opposes divisive concepts, waiver changes  – KELO
Aug 16, 2022 – SDEA opposes divisive concepts, waiver changes ... PIERRE, S.D.  — An organization that represents more than 6,000 South Dakota teachers and..