Associated School Boards leader shares thoughts on report cards

PIERRE, S.D. (WNAX) – The recently released report cards for South Dakota schools show about 54 percent of kids in grades three through eight and high school juniors were proficient in reading and writing, hit 47 percent in math and only 40 percent in science. Governor Kristi Noem said she was disappointed in those scores.

Wade Pogany, Executive Director of the Associated School Boards of South Dakota, says resources play a big part.

The legislature passed a half cent sales tax increase to fund teacher pay raises following the Blue Ribbon report.

Pogany says even that is not keeping up.

Pogany says the Governor, legislature and schools have to work together to make sure districts can continue to find and keep good teachers.

Those test scores have been virtually flat over the past three academic years.