Gov. Rhoden and DOE Secure Education Funding Flexibility

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 24, 2026

Contact: Josie Harms

Gov. Rhoden and DOE Secure Education Funding Flexibility

PIERRE, S.D. - Today, Gov. Rhoden and the South Dakota Department of Education (DOE) secured approval from the Trump Administration to offer Education Flexibility (Ed-Flex) waivers to school districts across South Dakota. This new flexibility will allow our schools to better serve students through strengthened alignment of resources and funding.

"Government works best when it is closest to the people. These waivers are another step in the right direction to returning education to the states," said Governor Larry Rhoden. "Thank you to the Trump Administration for the confidence you've expressed in my Department of Education. I am proud of the work we are doing to improve outcomes for our kids and grandkids."

The Ed-Flex waivers allow DOE to waive the limit on how much a school district can carry over of its Title I allocation annually. Before the waiver, DOE could approve carryover waiver requests from the districts once every three years.

In addition to receiving approval for the Ed-Flex waivers, DOE submitted a request for state-level activities consolidation. Similar to the Ed-Flex waivers, the state will provide more strategic support in federal funding consistent with the state department's initiatives. DOE's initiatives include:

• Improving literacy through adoption of the Science of Reading; and
• Improving math instruction through implementation of new common sense math standards.

"The department will use the flexibilities to help districts leverage resources and align funding with priorities here at home," said Secretary of Education Dr. Joseph Graves. "Together, these two functions will advance student academic achievement and success across the state."

You can learn more about the state-level activities consolidation and Ed-Flex waiver requests here.

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