DOE selects nine school districts for 2026 South Dakota Perkins Reserve grant

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – Nine school districts have been selected as recipients of the 2026 Perkins Reserve Grant by the South Dakota Department of Education.

The grant provides major equipment upgrades for Career and Technical Education programs, helping to equip students with the skills and experiences needed for post-secondary education and the workforce.

“CTE programs are constantly evolving to match the pace of workforce needs,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Joseph Graves.

“The South Dakota Perkins Reserve Grant aids schools in equipping students with current technologies, resources, and tools, offering students a realistic, hands-on learning experience that will strengthen their marketability to colleges or employers once they leave the K-12 education system.”

The following school districts have been named as the 2026 recipients:

• Aberdeen School District:
  • Awarded $30,233 for new precision machine equipment for the manufacturing program.
• De Smet School District:
  • Awarded $15,898 for modernizing metal fabrication within agriculture programs.
• Lake Preston School District:
  • Awarded $43,160 for expansion of program offers in multiple career clusters to strengthen industrial alignment.
• McLaughlin School District:
  • Awarded $11,997 to purchase equipment to offer a new culinary arts program.
• Menno School District:
  • Awarded $32,844 to purchase small engines and attend professional development opportunities to enhance the agricultural mechanics program.
• Mitchell School District:
  • Awarded $38,663 for the modernization of the automotive technology lab.
• Timber Lake School District:
  • Awarded $42,400 for the expansion of agriculture course offerings to strengthen industry alignment.
• Wakpala School District:
  • Awarded $40,145 to purchase a skid steer simulator to enhance the agriculture and construction program.
• Wolsey-Wessington School District:
  • Awarded $26,201 to purchase industry-aligned equipment to enhance the agriculture and construction program.

You can learn more about the South Dakota Perkins Reserve Grant at doe.sd.gov.

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