South Dakota Education Performance and Accountability

Last Thursday, South Dakota's Education Secretary Joseph Graves appeared before the Government Operations and Audit Committee to address concerns regarding student performance. A recent state report revealed that only 52% of students met grade-level expectations in English, while 44% did so in math. In response, Graves highlighted ongoing reforms, particularly the adoption of the 'Science of Reading' approach. Notably, the Watertown School District outperformed the state averages, with 57% of students achieving proficiency in English and 48% in math. These figures were derived from standardized tests administered to students in grades 3-8 and high school juniors. Following the meeting, the committee decided to mandate annual performance updates from the Department of Education in light of the declining achievement statistics.