PIERRE, S.D. (DRG News) – The South Dakota Department of Education has released its strategic plan, which will guide the department’s activities through 2024.

Secretary of Education Dr. Ben Jones says chief among the priorities is championing excellence in the South Dakota K-12 education system. He says to that end, the top two priorities are to implement focused initiatives to decrease the opportunity gap for students in poverty and to establish a networked community of allies focused on serving Native American learners to improve academic outcomes.

The plan consists of four strategic directions: championing excellence, maximizing and building relationships, achieving effectiveness and cultivating professional culture. The strategies are intended to achieve the department’s vision of supporting local educators, investing in talent development, fostering research and innovation, supporting the whole learner and reinventing accountability.

The strategic plan can be found on the Department of Education’s website.