Phonics-based instruction could soon be a state standard in South Dakota. The Department of Education is working to align state standards for English and language arts with the phonics-based “science of reading” framework.

The proposed standards revision had its second hearing Thursday in Sioux Falls during a South Dakota Board of Education Standards meeting. It’ll be discussed at the board’s meetings in Pierre and Rapid City next year before approval.

The revision follows a global debate — often called the “reading wars” — about how best to teach children to read. One side advocates for an emphasis on phonics, which is understanding the relationship between sounds and letters. The other side prefers a “whole language” approach that puts a stronger emphasis on understanding meaning, with some phonics mixed in. The “balanced literacy” approach gained popularity in the 2000s, which is phonics-inclusive but favors whole language instruction.

Gov. Kristi Noem and the Legislature invested $6 million earlier this year to train teachers in the science of reading. 

The timing for the standards review “couldn’t be better,” said Shannon Malone, director of the Department of Education’s division of learning and instruction, during Thursday’s meeting.

Noem’s phonics literacy effort advances in Legislature

Most of South Dakota’s teachers who were trained in phonics before “whole language” and “balanced literacy” was the standard have retired. Just under 50% of South Dakota students last school year didn’t meet standards for English and language arts, according to the state report card.

“We hope to see those numbers go up. I believe there’s good evidence they will,” state Education Department Secretary Joe Graves told the board.

The department is wrapping up its current voluntary training program on phonics-based teaching and transitioning to courses through the South Dakota Board of Regents, using part of the $6 million in funding from the Legislature. The department hopes to begin classes in fall 2025, open to all public, private and tribal school teachers in the state.

As part of the higher education system, state Department of Education officials hope the program will be used to train college students majoring in teaching before they graduate.

A $54 million Comprehensive Literacy State Development grant awarded to South Dakota from the federal government will also be used to help local school districts implement a phonics-based approach over the next five years. Those competitive grants, with applications opening in early 2025, can go toward improvements such as literacy coach salaries, teacher training or curriculum reviews.

The board also held hearings for optional content standards for computer science and the Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings, which educate students on culture and traditions of Indigenous South Dakotans. The computer science standards would be new standards to explore technology, such as artificial intelligence, in the classrooms and workforce. One person spoke against the revised OSEU standards, saying that the standards needed more tribal consultation and more representation of the Nakota and Dakota tribes.

The design team of Craig & Coyne has partnered with planning and construction firm Landscapes Unlimited to build a golf course at Lazy J Grand Lodge in Ideal, South Dakota.

In rebranding to Lazy J Sporting Club, the facility is adding a par-72, 7,216-yard, 18-hole course scheduled to open in 2027. In a media announcement introducing the plans, the site in the southern/central portion of the state was described as featuring gentle hills, dramatic ravines, elevation changes and waterways. 

Craig & Coyne is a partnership formed in 2022 between golf architect Colton Craig and noted author Tom Coyne. Coyne gained famed for several books such as “A Gentleman’s Game,” “Paper Tiger,” “A Course Called Ireland,” “A Course Called Scotland” and “A Course called America.” He is now the editor of the magazine Golfer’s Journal and also a part-owner and operator of Sullivan County Golf Course in New York.

Landscapes Unlimited will bring Craig & Coyne’s design to life, and sister company Landscapes Golf Management will oversee pre-opening activities including membership campaigns and financial management. 

Lazy J – set on 20,000 acres – has long been a pheasant hunting destination, and its operators said golf would be a natural addition in turning the lodge into a private destination club. Limited memberships of various levels will be offered.

“Research shows hunters love playing golf and vice versa,” Nick Jorgensen – CEO of Jorgensen Land and Cattle and whose family owns the property – said in a recent media release announcing the course. “We are determined to provide them with a fun and safe destination escape to create unforgettable lifetime memories and experience ultra-friendly Midwest hospitality and camaraderie on the land we love.”

Planned amenities include a state-of-the-art short-game practice area and a 12-hole short course. The existing 42-bed lodge, including a lounge and restaurant, will see interior and exterior renovation.

“The Jorgensen family is world-class in everything it does, and we expect the new golf course to meet the same standards,” Tom Everett, president of Landscapes Golf Management, said in the media release. “With significantly growing participation in golf and hunting, and the premium caliber of Lazy J Sporting Club at large, members will absolutely love their experiences time and again.”

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – This week, President-elect Donald Trump hinted at the idea of privatizing the United States Postal Service, an idea that has stirred up conversation for South Dakota postal workers.

The Postal Workers Union in South Dakota is firmly against the idea of privatization. Though it’s not official that it will happen, Trump has been critical of the Postal Service before, saying it’s unprofitable.

Postal workers are taking this very seriously.

The President-elect has tossed around the idea before. South Dakota’s American Postal Workers Union President Todd West believes this has been Trump’s plan since he appointed Louis DeJoy as Postmaster General in 2020.

“I don’t think it’d be good. It’s like it turns into a corporate greed-type thing where it’s all about making the money, not about service. It’s not going to be good for places like South Dakota,” West said.

The APWU believes privatizing the Postal Service could hurt rural communities in South Dakota because the cost to deliver in small towns will force changes due to the emphasis on turning a profit.

“They’re not going to want to run these little post offices in small towns, so what’s going to happen to them? Are people going to get service one or two days a week? I think the federal government would ultimately end up subsidizing these small towns, post offices and stuff for them to be able to have mail,” West said.

Sioux Falls local vice president Manny Lopez said in a statement to Dakota News Now:

West said Trump misunderstands what the Postal Service was created for. He said that it was never meant to turn a profit, but that it would be true to what’s in its name: A service to the American People.

“Postage is supposed to cover their costs basically. They’re not supposed to be making hundreds of thousands of dollars for board members, trustees, stockholders, where if it goes to privatized, that’s what they’re going to be looking at,” West said.

Trump said shipping is different today because of Amazon, UPS and FedEx, but postal workers want to keep the distinction of being a public good, not privatized like the examples Trump gave.

USPS decline to comment on this story.

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