Advocating for Fair School Funding
These resources are designed to help advocates across South Dakota speak up for fair, sustainable funding for our public schools.
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Education has always been the foundation of opportunity, community strength, and a brighter future. Here in South Dakota, our public schools open doors for every child—no matter their background or ZIP code. When we invest in education, we invest in our students, our workforce, and the future of our state. Let’s continue to support and uplift the public schools that lift all of us.
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State law says school funding must keep up with inflation. This budget doesn’t—and our schools feel it. Rising costs for fuel, utilities, food service, special education, and staffing leave districts with impossible choices: larger classes, fewer staff, and fewer opportunities for kids.
A balanced budget for the state shouldn’t mean a negative budget for our public schools.
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Our students are the foundation of South Dakota’s future. When school funding keeps up with real-world costs, districts can maintain programs, retain teachers, and provide the learning environments students deserve. A strong investment in education today pays dividends for generations.
Let’s invest in their full potential.
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Under the FY26 Proposal…
📘 Education: +2.3%
🔒 Corrections: +16.8%
South Dakota spends:
🧑🎓 ~$11,000 per student 🔒 ~$33,000 per Prisoner
Our future is sitting in classrooms across South Dakota today. Let’s choose a future built on strong schools.
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Strong communities depend on strong public schools. This video walks through how South Dakota funds its schools and highlights why our shared commitment to education is so important for the future of our state.