Hello District 9
Happy Fall everybody!
With school back in session, for the 25–26 year, I thought it would be appropriate to recap the recommendations from the Teachers Compensation Review Boards summer study.
As a reminder, the blue ribbon task force was started in 2015. The main purpose was to “reevaluate the current funding formula, collect and analyze data, engage with stakeholders and seek public input.”
Since the task force has been implemented, SD moved from ranking 50th to 46th in the nation for teacher pay, where the average salary sits at $56,328.
In the 23/24 school year, a 4 year study conducted by the Department of Education (DOE) found that teachers in elementary, music and miscellaneous fields account for the highest vacancies.
Starting in the Fall of 2023, that study led to Cohort programs I, II AND III otherwise known as the paraprofessional apprenticeship program. During Cohort I, they had 87 enrolled, graduated 59 and employed 46. The current 2024-2025 statistics are looking positive for the “grow your own” teacher model. The DOE, Department of Labor (DOL) together with Northern State University and Dakota State University have implemented the successful programs and are working with South Dakota’s own citizens to obtain their teaching certificates. To address more of these shortfalls, student teaching permit grants to support student teachers, state mentoring programs, educators rising, and Career and Technical Education (CTE) focusing on career based teaching courses have evolved.
The last Teacher Compensation Review Board meeting was held in Pierre South Dakota on Wednesday, August 20, 2025 with the final review data as follows.
The data states that as we are increasing average teacher pay salaries in SD, so are the other states close to our proximity. With Montana and North Dakota being ahead but close to South Dakota based salaries. Minnesota is highest in the region at $72,430 a year. When compared to regional price parity (which is the buying power of the salary pay), South Dakota moves ahead of Montana in that study.
So… Yes, this is a lot to think about but it must also be mentioned that the property taxes that we pay to support our schools aren’t directly associated with teacher pay. The formulas are based on many things, each specific to your school districts and their needs. But it must be stated that over 50% of our taxes go to the schools to fund these formulas.
So here’s the recap and final recommendations from the 2025 review board:
Recommendation 1: Leave the current metrics unchanged. Passed 8 to 0.
Recommendation 2: Because of continuing short falls in teachers, encourage DOE to expand professional development to productively address student behavior. Passed 8 to 0
Recommendation 3: Request the DOE examine the ability for one time data on instructional time spent on extracurricular and athletic programs. Passed 5 to 3.
Recommendation 4: So to attract and retain teachers involves financial and culture solutions. The recommendation to direct the DOE to draft a white paper brief, on the effects of smartphones and personal technology in relation to behavior. Passed 8-0
As South Dakota continues to grow, we should seek new ideas, creative study, and solutions to better our communities and have more positive effects on the core family.
When disagreements arise, it should always be handled with compassion, kindness, and positivity. Threatening violence or spreading violence on social media should never be a method of resolution. But rather through respectable debate and conversation. Even if we don’t agree, the conversation is where bridges can be formed.
We wish you all the best as we head into the final quarter of 2025.
Sincerely,
Representative Tesa Schwans,
Representative Bethany Soye, and
Senator Joy Hohn
