Mitchell, SD (MITCHELLNOW) The State of South Dakota is rolling out a new program designed to boost literacy rates. The legislature passed a six-million-dollar appropriation for the initiative based on the Science of Reading program. Education Secretary, Dr. Joe Graves, says that current teachers will be trained in the new literacy standards. Beginning July 1, 2024, the Board of Regents will become responsible for this training. The idea is that the Regents will include literacy course requirements as part of the teacher certification programs and education majors at the various regental institutions around the state.
The English Language Arts standards are up for review this summer as well. Dr. Graves says the goal of the Science of Reading, the new literacy standards and the English Language Arts review are to ensure that every child in South Dakota is literate upon completion of their education.