South Dakota
State changes child care subsidy policy to better support providers – South Dakota Searchlight
A program meant to help low-income families pay for child care changed this month to better support providers.
The change to the South Dakota Department of Social Services’ Child Care Assistance Program moved from an attendance-based policy to enrollment-based, which child care advocates say is welcome.
Department Secretary Matt Althoff said in a news release last month that the program is intended to serve “both families and providers in a way that can provide predictable payments that ease budgeting as well as the administrative burdens of program participation.”
The change took effect on Jan. 1.
The state’s child care subsidy programs have been under fire in recent years. Of the roughly 29,000 South Dakota children who qualify for subsidized child care, only 1,800 receive assistance — about 7%.
That low participation rate is compounded by the fact that child care providers often lose money when they accept state subsidies, Early Learner South Dakota Director Kayla Klein told South Dakota Searchlight last year.
“People tend to want paying parents and don’t want to deal with subsidies because there are so many flaws in the system,” Klein said at the time.
The previous assistance program policy reimbursed child care providers based on the hours a child was in child care, rather than for a full day. Many families don’t keep their children in day care for the entire time a provider is open.
If parents who are eligible for a subsidy picked up their child early, the provider wouldn’t get the full day’s amount, even though the spot was reserved for a full day.
“At the end of the day, the child spot still needs to be paid in full,” Klein said in a news release.
The switch to enrollment-based subsidies would cover the entire day, saving child care businesses money and allowing providers to better predict their bottom line, said Mike Bockorny, chair of the Economic Development Professionals Association, in a news release.
Child care advocates have cited a number of other policy and legislative changes that could boost South Dakota’s child care industry, including:
- Changing regulations that disqualify or discourage some low-income families — single parents, teen parents and homeless families — from the state subsidy program.
- Basing child care subsidy rates on true costs rather than market rates.
- Partnering with a national organization to analyze how the state is financially supporting the child care industry.
“This change is part of an ongoing effort to reduce barriers to Child Care Assistance participation,” Althoff said. “We will continue to look towards opportunities afforded through system modernization.”
GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 8, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Jan. 8 drawing
05-12-13-39-48, Lucky Ball: 13
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize
- Prizes of $100 or less: Can be claimed at any South Dakota Lottery retailer.
- Prizes of $101 or more: Must be claimed from the Lottery. By mail, send a claim form and a signed winning ticket to the Lottery at 711 E. Wells Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501.
- Any jackpot-winning ticket for Dakota Cash or Lotto America, top prize-winning ticket for Lucky for Life, or for the second prizes for Powerball and Mega Millions must be presented in person at a Lottery office. A jackpot-winning Powerball or Mega Millions ticket must be presented in person at the Lottery office in Pierre.
When are the South Dakota Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
- Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Dakota Cash: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Dakota editor. You can send feedback using this form.
RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – A harrowing scene at Sheridan Lake ended without serious injury Tuesday after a man, a woman and their dog fell through thin ice near the swimming beach, authorities said.
Keep pets on a leash and never attempt a risky rescue if someone falls through the ice, officials said. Call 911 immediately.
The South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks agency advises that ice three inches or less is unsafe. Four inches is generally considered the minimum for walking, ice fishing or skating.
Lt. Casey Kenrick of the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office said the incident is a reminder to take extra precautions this winter.
“Usually at this time the ice is significantly thick on the lakes around the area, well, some aren’t even frozen all the way at this point. The temperatures have been up and down so much that the ice isn’t solid even though it may look like it is, so make sure you know the ice depth that you’re getting onto,” Kenrick said.
Kenrick said those precautions could mean the difference between a close call and a tragedy.
See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.
Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.
Copyright 2026 KOTA. All rights reserved.
RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – On Jan. 7, 1995, William Janklow began his third of four terms as governor. From statehood until 1972, governors served two-year terms. Voters then approved a constitutional amendment in 1972 allowing governors to serve two consecutive four-year terms.
Janklow served from 1979 to 1987 and again from 1995 to 2003. His 16 years are the longest stint of any governor in South Dakota history
See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.
Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.
Copyright 2026 KOTA. All rights reserved.
Iowa Great Lakes businessman Butch Parks dies at 81
Kansas ag officials take comment on proposed water rules
Louisiana task force confronts future of Greek life, pushes new hazing safeguards
After feds cut key food insecurity survey, Maine lawmaker urges state to fill data void
Md. Gov. Moore touts public safety funding increase, even with crime continuing to drop – WTOP News
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
Trump plans to meet with Venezuela opposition leader Maria Corina Machado next week
Trump says meeting Iran’s ‘Crown Prince’ Pahlavi would not be appropriate
Federal immigration agents shoot 2 people in Portland, Oregon, police say
Video: What Trump Told Us About the ICE Shooting
Trump calls for $1.5T defense budget to build ‘dream military’
-
Detroit, MI5 days ago2 hospitalized after shooting on Lodge Freeway in Detroit
-
Technology3 days agoPower bank feature creep is out of control
-
Dallas, TX4 days agoDefensive coordinator candidates who could improve Cowboys’ brutal secondary in 2026
-
Health5 days agoViral New Year reset routine is helping people adopt healthier habits
-
Nebraska2 days agoOregon State LB transfer Dexter Foster commits to Nebraska
-
Iowa3 days agoPat McAfee praises Audi Crooks, plays hype song for Iowa State star
-
Nebraska3 days agoNebraska-based pizza chain Godfather’s Pizza is set to open a new location in Queen Creek
-
Entertainment2 days agoSpotify digs in on podcasts with new Hollywood studios