Rep. Dusty Johnson's "Strong Schools" Plan Aims to Boost South Dakota Education

A New Approach to Education in South Dakota

RAPID CITY, S.D. – This week, Dusty Johnson introduced his “Strong Schools” Plan aimed at enhancing the quality of education across South Dakota. The initiative comes as a response to declining student test scores over the past decade, which Johnson believes necessitates a bold and comprehensive vision for the state's educational future.

Johnson criticized the recent budget address by the governor, stating that for the first time in state history, K-12 education was not prioritized as the top investment for state government. "Last week in the budget address, we did not hear a bold vision from the governor," he said. "This is a concerning shift in focus that could have long-term consequences for our students."

Three Pillars of the Strong Schools Plan

The “Strong Schools” Plan is built on three core pillars. First, Johnson aims to restore K-12 education as the top budget priority through a system of priority-based budgeting. This approach would ensure that the state's financial resources are allocated in a way that directly supports the needs of schools and students.

Second, the plan focuses on improving reading and math scores throughout the state. According to the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress, South Dakota's reading scores for 4th and 8th graders dropped compared to 2022. However, math scores for 8th graders remained stable, with a slight improvement seen among 4th graders.

Third, Johnson emphasizes the importance of collaboration between families, educators, and the state to address the academic, social, and mental health needs of students. He plans to lead a statewide conversation to develop a detailed plan that incorporates best practices from other states that have successfully improved their education systems.

Learning from Successful Models

Johnson pointed to states like Mississippi as examples of successful educational reforms. "They’ve done that through far more proactive policies related to promotion and retention to students, the science of reading, Phonics," he said. These strategies have led to significant improvements in test scores and overall student performance.

Additionally, the plan includes allowing skilled trade courses to count toward math and science requirements for graduation. Johnson believes this will help bridge the skills gap and create more opportunities for high-paying jobs in the state.

Challenges and Responses

Rapid City Area Schools’ superintendent Jami Jo Thompson highlighted the various factors that influence student achievement. "We’re still struggling from Covid and trying to put strategies in place that will address both students’ academic, social behavior and mental health needs," she said. She emphasized the need for continued support and resources to help students recover from the pandemic's impact.

Johnson also noted that many parents and educators feel there has been insufficient leadership in addressing the direction of South Dakota's education system. "Not one of them thought they’d seen enough leadership in the last year, at the state level," he said.

In response to these concerns, Governor Larry Rhoden’s Director of Communications, Ian Fury, stated that South Dakota has made significant investments in K-12 education. "Over the Noem-Rhoden Administration (including this year), K-12 funding has increased by 6.2% more than the statutory requirement," he said. Fury added that the administration has also invested heavily in the Science of Reading, which is expected to improve reading scores.

He further explained that the federal government has shifted some responsibilities, such as Medicaid funding, onto the states. "South Dakota’s economy is so strong that we’ve had to take on more of the burden," Fury said. He also mentioned that the state is actively revising math standards to make it easier for parents to assist their children with learning.

Fury concluded by emphasizing the importance of honest leadership. "Serious leadership means telling people the truth — even when it’s hard — not just what sounds good in a campaign plan," he said. He urged the state's congressman to focus on addressing federal spending issues rather than making political attacks.