South Dakota
$6 million dollars approved to improve literacy rates across South Dakota
RAPID CITY, S.D. (KEVN) – According to the South Dakota Report Card, English language arts proficiency was at 50% among all students in South Dakota, with some districts showing rates as low as 20%.
On March 5th, Governor Kristi Noem signed into law a bill appropriating $6 million to expand phonics-based reading curriculum and teacher training. That funding, which will be used over four years, will allow elementary students to learn to read with a more intensive approach that relies on using sounds within words rather than letters.
South Dakota Education Secretary Joseph Graves says the switch to phonics-based, learning is essential to improving literacy rates and says it will work as it has in other states.
“Education researchers have demonstrated very clearly that there is a science of reading and that it means that we need to return a very systematic instruction in phonics. That will get us our best results for our students. This program has been demonstrated that it will work and in fact, it has already been working in other states,” Graves said.
Mississippi is one of those states to see strides with phonics. However, Mississippi’s director of the Elementary Education and Reading Office Tenette Smith has said she believes it will take South Dakota much more than the four-year, $6 million plan to make this goal long-lasting. Graves, however, says with the progress the state has made with previous funds, four years will be plenty of time to reach the goal.
“This next four years what we believe we’ll be able to do is get everybody else trained beginning after next year to provide the training and create the modules such that they will not only train the people in the field right now but also have the wherewithal to train incoming teach candidates and that way we’ll cover everybody,” Graves said.
Graves emphasized that reading is the core of everything else and says this is a fundamental goal that the state needs to get right and he believes will happen.
Copyright 2024 KEVN. All rights reserved.
South Dakota
South Dakota Election Live Results 2024
Steven McCleereyS. McCleereyMcCleerey Democrat
Mark SumptionM. SumptionSumption Democrat
David KullD. KullKull*incumbent Republican
John SjaardaJ. SjaardaSjaarda*incumbent Republican
Brandei SchaefbauerB. SchaefbauerSchaefbauer*incumbent Republican
Erin RudnerE. RudnerRudner Democrat
Kent RoeK. RoeRoe Republican
Dylan JordanD. JordanJordan Republican
Diane DrakeD. DrakeDrake Democrat
Amy RambowA. RambowRambow Democrat
Aaron AylwardA. AylwardAylward*incumbent Republican
Garret CampbellG. CampbellCampbell Democrat
Mellissa HeermannM. HeermannHeermann*incumbent Republican
Roger DeGrootR. DeGrootDeGroot*incumbent Republican
Tim ReischT. ReischReisch*incumbent Republican
Tim WalburgT. WalburgWalburg Republican
Bethany SoyeB. SoyeSoye*incumbent Republican
Beverly Froslie JohnsonB. Froslie JohnsonFroslie Johnson Democrat
Kameron NelsonK. NelsonNelson*incumbent Democrat
Erin HealyE. HealyHealy*incumbent Democrat
Brian MulderB. MulderMulder*incumbent Republican
Aaron MatsonA. MatsonMatson Democrat
Amber ArlintA. ArlintArlint*incumbent Republican
Greg JamisonG. JamisonJamison*incumbent Republican
Tony VenhuizenT. VenhuizenVenhuizen*incumbent Republican
John HughesJ. HughesHughes Republican
Taylor Rae RehfeldtT. RehfeldtRehfeldt*incumbent Republican
Keith BlockK. BlockBlock Democrat
Kadyn WittmanK. WittmanWittman*incumbent Democrat
Erik MuckeyE. MuckeyMuckey Democrat
Karla LemsK. LemsLems*incumbent Republican
Matthew NessM. NessNess Democrat
William ShormaW. ShormaShorma*incumbent Republican
Chris KassinC. KassinKassin*incumbent Republican
Mike StevensM. StevensStevens*incumbent Republican
Julie AuchJ. AuchAuch*incumbent Republican
Drew PetersonD. PetersonPeterson*incumbent Republican
Jessica BahmullerJ. BahmullerBahmuller*incumbent Republican
Jeff BathkeJ. BathkeBathke Republican
Kaley NolzK. NolzNolz Republican
Marty OverwegM. OverwegOverweg*incumbent Republican
Jim HalversonJ. HalversonHalverson Republican
Kevin Van DiepenK. Van DiepenVan Diepen Republican
Lana GreenfieldL. GreenfieldGreenfield Republican
Scott MooreS. MooreMoore*incumbent Republican
Spencer GoschS. GoschGosch Republican
Will MortensonW. MortensonMortenson*incumbent Republican
Mike WeisgramM. WeisgramWeisgram*incumbent Republican
Jon HansenJ. HansenHansen*incumbent Republican
Les HeinemannL. HeinemannHeinemann Republican
Peri PourierP. PourierPourier*incumbent Democrat
Liz MayL. MayMay*incumbent Republican
Kathy RiceK. RiceRice Republican
Terri JorgensonT. JorgensonJorgenson Republican
Trish LadnerT. LadnerLadner*incumbent Republican
Susan ScheirbeckS. ScheirbeckScheirbeck Democrat
Scott OdenbachS. OdenbachOdenbach*incumbent Republican
Mary FitzgeraldM. FitzgeraldFitzgerald*incumbent Republican
Steve DuffyS. DuffyDuffy*incumbent Republican
Nicole Uhre-BalkN. Uhre-BalkUhre-Balk Democrat
Curt MassieC. MassieMassie*incumbent Republican
Phil JensenP. JensenJensen*incumbent Republican
Mike DerbyM. DerbyDerby*incumbent Republican
Heather BaxterH. BaxterBaxter Republican
Tina MulallyT. MulallyMulally*incumbent Republican
Tony RandolphT. RandolphRandolph*incumbent Republican
Eric EmeryE. EmeryEmery*incumbent Democrat
Ron FrederickR. FrederickFrederick Republican
Rebecca ReimerR. ReimerReimer*incumbent Republican
David ReisD. ReisReis Independent
Carl J PetersenC. PetersenPetersen Democrat
Jana HuntJ. HuntHunt Republican
Travis IsmayT. IsmayIsmay Republican
South Dakota
South Dakotans in the NFL, Week 9
SIOUX FALLS — Two more former Jackrabbits have been added to South Dakota’s NFL roll call over the last two weeks.
Quarterback Chris Oladokun was added to the Chiefs’ practice squad, while former Jackrabbit tackle Garret Greenfield signed to the Giants practice squad.
Oladokun spent the previous two seasons in that same role with Kansas City, earning a pair of Super Bowl rings, but was released after preseason this year. Now he’s back with the Chiefs, behind perennial MVP-candidate Patrick Mahomes and North Dakota State alum Carson Wentz.
Greenfield, an All-American tackle at SDSU, signed as an undrafted free agent with the Seahawks, joined their practice squad, but was later released. He’s now getting a chance with the Giants.
Meanwhile among the active former Jacks in the NFL, linebacker Christian Rozeboom continues to have a productive fourth season in the league. Rozeboom notched 11 tackles in Sunday’s overtime win over the Seahawks, the third time this season he’s reached double digits. He leads the Rams with 65 tackles on the season, which is good for 21st in the league overall.
Here’s how the rest of the NFL’s South Dakotans did in Week 9.
Jack Cochrane, LB, Kansas City, USD
Had one tackle in the Chiefs Monday night overtime win over Tampa Bay.
Isaiah Davis, RB, New York Jets, SDSU
Saw the field for 17 special teams plays in the Jets’ loss to the Texans on Thursday night.
Dallas Goedert, TE, Philadelphia, SDSU/Britton-Hecla
Did not play due to injury.
CJ Ham, FB, Minnesota, Augustana
Played 13 offensive snaps and 12 on special teams in the Vikings’ Sunday night win over the Colts.
Tucker Kraft, TE, Green Bay, SDSU/Timber Lake
Had four catches for 34 yards in the Packers’ loss to the Lions.
Mason McCormick, G, Pittsburgh, SDSU/SF Roosevelt
The Steelers were idle.
Trey Pipkins, G, LA Chargers, USF
Started and played all 57 offensive snaps for the Chargers in their win over the Browns.
Tip Reiman, TE, Arizona, SF O’Gorman
Started and played 29 snaps but did not record any stats in the Cardinals’ win over the Bears.
Christian Rozeboom, LB, LA Rams, SDSU
Had 11 tackles in the Rams’ win over the Seahawks.
Pierre Strong, RB, Cleveland, SDSU
Had two carries for eight yards and two kickoff returns for 47 yards in the Browns’ loss to the Chargers.
On injured reserve
Dennis Gardeck, LB, Arizona, USF
Myles Harden, CB, Cleveland, USD
On practice squads
Kameron Cline, DL, Buffalo, USD
Garret Greenfield, OL, NY Giants, SDSU
Blake Larson, OL, LA Rams, Augsutana/Brandon Valley
Brock Mogensen, LB, Dallas, USD
Chris Oladokun, QB, KC Chiefs, SDSU
Isaiah Stalbird, LB, New Orleans, SDSU
Matt Zimmer is a Sioux Falls native and longtime sports writer. He graduated from Washington High School where he played football, legion baseball and developed his lifelong love of the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. After graduating from St. Cloud State University, he returned to Sioux Falls, and began a long career in amateur baseball and sports reporting. Email Matt at mzimmer@siouxfallslive.com.
South Dakota
South Dakota women's basketball falls in season-opener to Saint Louis in overtime
VERMILLION – In a thrilling season-opener, South Dakota Women’s Basketball narrowly lost to Saint Louis 85-83 in overtime on Monday night.
The Coyotes trailed by double-digits in the second half, but a furious comeback kept the two teams tight to end the game. Grace Larkins hit a game-tying shot near the end of regulation to send the game to overtime, however, Saint Louis prevailed with a go-ahead basket with 6 seconds left in overtime. It ended up being the difference as USD couldn’t find the game-tying or winning shot.
The offense for both teams stalled to begin the second quarter. Neither team scored for over three minutes until the Billikens broke that streak with a field goal with 6:44 left to go in the first half. The shooting continued for the Coyotes for most of the second quarter, but a few late shots improved the shooting percentage to 23.5 percent.
The overall first-half shooting percentage was worse as the Coyotes finished the half with a 22.6 shooting percentage on 7-for-31 attempts and the Billikens went into the locker room with a 36-25 lead. The 3-point shooting was a huge struggle in the first half with only a 1-for-13 mark from behind the arc. Olivia Kieffer led USD with 10 points at the half.
Out of the half, Saint Louis extended its lead with an immediate 7-0 run to go up 42-25 within the opening two minutes. Despite the early run, USD responded with a 12-2 run to bring the lead back down to single digits at 44-37 with four minutes left in the third quarter. The Coyote comeback continued as the lead continued to shrink and suddenly the lead was down to only three points at 50-47, but Saint Louis held a 52-47 lead at the end of the quarter.
The Coyotes stuck around in the fourth quarter and reduced the Billiken lead to one possession multiple times in the fourth quarter and were only down 60-59 with five minutes left in the game. Just a bit later, USD took a 62-60 lead with four minutes to go.
The two went back and forth in the final four minutes, but it was Saint Louis who held a 70-69 lead with under 30 seconds to go. Kieffer missed a potential go-ahead jumper with 19 seconds to go, but USD was able to get the ball back with 17 seconds left. However, a missed shot led to a Saint Louis free throw on the other end to make it 71-69. But Larkins came up clutch with a game-tying layup right before time expired.
Saint Louis raced out to a 79-73 lead in the overtime period, but USD wouldn’t go away with multiple 3s to make it 81-79 with a minute and a half to go. With 24 seconds left, the Coyotes trailed 83-81. Larkins did here thing once again with a game-tying basket with 18 seconds to go. However, the Billikens scored with six seconds left to make it 85-83 and the Coyotes were unable to find the tying shot.
For USD, Larkins finished the day with a team-high 27 points and also nabbed 13 rebounds for the double-double. Carley Duffney has a big night as well with 18 points and seven rebounds. For Saint Louis, Peyton Kennedy scored a team-high 25 points while Kennedy Calhoun scored 21 points.
USD (0-1) will hit the road to play at Air Force on Friday, Nov. 8, while Saint Louis (1-0) will also be on the road at Drake on Thursday, Nov. 7.
Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of “Mitchell Republic.” Often, the “Mitchell Republic” byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.
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