SIOUX FALLS, S.D.- Friday mornings are extra special at one Sioux Falls elementary school. A new program that started this school year is not only helping teachers jump start their day, it’s also brewing an important sense of independence in some of the students. There’s nothing like a hot cup of coffee to start the day off right and a…
SIOUX FALLS, S.D.- Omnitech, a South Dakota software engineering firm partnered with Microsoft to hold their second annual DigiGirlz day at the University Center in Sioux Falls on March 7th. Around 100 middle school and high school girls from across South Dakota had an opportunity to learn about potential careers in technology. They were exposed to things they wouldn’t typically see in…
ST. PAUL, Minn. – New Gov. Tim Walz won’t release his first budget until Feb. 19 but some elements of his agenda for rural Minnesota are already emerging. Walz is Minnesota’s first governor from greater Minnesota since Rudy Perpich left office in 1991. The Democratic former congressman from Mankato has provided some glimpses recently about his plans for the parts…
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Leaders of the new Democratic majority in the Minnesota House unveiled the first 10 bills they’ll introduce this session, including a proposal to let all residents buy into the MinnnesotaCare health program, which is currently reserved for the working poor. They acknowledged at a news conference Wednesday it will be a struggle to find enough votes…
A statistic that is very rarely talked about, is the number of adults injured or killed on the job – any job. But there are an incredible number of families, farm families in particular in our state, that are impacted by such accidents. When that happens, a family’s income can be significantly affected. College or post-secondary school opportunities for children,…
SIOUX FALLS, S.D.-Schools across South Dakota are choosing to become more inclusive by becoming a Unified Champion School through the South Dakota Special Olympics. This means the school is choosing to promote social inclusion of those with and without disabilities through education and sports. Roosevelt High School is in its second year with the program. There are many different things…
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Sioux Falls voters are making a $190 million decision. In the morning, the polls averaged 1,000 voters per hour, many leaving with a sticker souvenir. However, things get even busier in the afternoon when people get off of work. That’s when one familiar Sioux Falls face arrived at the polls to vote. “There’s all these important…
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Last week South Dakota Congresswoman Kristi Noem’s campaign for governor got a shot in the arm from a presidential visit This week, her democratic opponent, Billie Sutton, is picking up the support of some big-name organizations. It’s a big endorsement for Billie Sutton. “Public education can not find a better advocate than Billie Sutton,” said Mary…
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – You may notice some new faces on the University of Sioux Falls campus – more than 300 of them. Brett Bradfield, the president of the University of Sioux Falls, remembers when he got the news. “There were some very humorous emails going around of our admissions staff holding signs that said 300 and a celebration of sorts,”…
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – According to a Federal Department of Education survey, 94 percent of teachers spend their own money on school supplies without reimbursement. This means many teachers are spread thin. Tonight, teachers in South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska are teaming up to cut costs. “You gotta keep up with the times,” said one teacher. Teachers are meeting…
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – There’s some new requirements to graduate from South Dakota high schools that could impact your child’s future. The state decided yesterday that high schools will start giving out what they call “endorsements” in addition to high school diplomas. These endorsements are labels for what the student has chosen to focus on. The “advanced career” endorsement may…
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – There’s some new requirements to graduate from high school that could offer your student more flexibility. High schools will start giving out what they call “endorsements” in addition to a high school diploma. Pursuing these endorsements are encouraged, not required. These endorsements are labels for what the student has chosen to focus on. For example, a…
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Imagine growing up and your parent is the principal. It’s an experience the Bradfield children know well. It might seem like an interesting role, but it comes with special perks and experiences many families will never quite understand. Now, a nearly 20-year tradition for one family is coming to an end this weekend. KDLT’s Allison Royal…
MITCHELL, S.D. – For this week’s edition of ‘School Zone,’ we head west to Mitchell. Students at Gertie Belle Rodgers Elementary School are learning through ‘personalized learning classrooms.’ P-L-C’s focus on student’s learning at their own pace, not through traditional measures. Things like a traditional classroom, K-5 grade levels, and ‘A’ through ‘F’ grading scales are thrown out. Students are…
Sioux Falls, S.D.- It’s widely considered that education is an important part of life, but how do parents keep their kids interested in going to school? “We have to force our kids to go to school because that instills a good work ethic and attendance ethic and just everything overall,” says Marilyn Whitney, a mother of five. Everyone knows going…
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) – State lawmakers have rejected a bill that would have banned public school administrators from collective bargaining in right-to-work South Dakota. The House Education Committee voted 8-6 Friday against the proposal, which critics called unnecessary. House Speaker Mark Mickelson, the bill’s sponsor, says there are times when the actions of the union run contrary to schools’ mission…
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Around 300 Sioux Falls children are waiting for an available preschool slot. A new Sioux Falls non-profit is hoping to help children in need by opening by more slots Through the help of the Sioux Falls School District and three Sioux Falls church partners, the Sioux Falls Hope Coalition has opened preschool slots to around 40…
BROOKINGS, S.D. – The South Dakota Board of Regents has made it easier for Nebraska student to choose a University in South Dakota. Action by the South Dakota Board Regents on Wednesday allows students from Nebraska who are new first-time freshmen or new transfer students to qualify for undergraduate resident tuition at South Dakota State University beginning in summer 2018….
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – A local university is making strides to equip needy populations in the community to gain workforce skills. The University of Sioux Falls Bridges Program began classes in October after Kilian Community College closed last year. The program’s classes are geared toward immigrant and refugee populations who want to improve their English and education backgrounds. Sioux Falls…
BROOKINGS, S.D. (AP) – South Dakota State University President Barry Dunn says an anonymous donor has committed $4.1 million to support a school initiative for South Dakota tribal members. The commitments announced Thursday include $4 million for a new American Indian Student Center on the Brookings campus and $100,000 for scholarships for students from the Lakota, Dakota and Nakota tribes…
