FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 5, 2026

Contact: Josie Harms

Gov. Rhoden Replaces Common Core with Common Sense Math

PIERRE, S.D. – Governor Larry Rhoden announced the new Math Standards for K-12 education were approved by a unanimous vote from the Board of Education Standards (BOES) yesterday.

“We’re replacing common core with common sense in South Dakota’s math standards – and that’s a great thing,” said Governor Larry Rhoden. “Now, parents will be better able to actually help their students with their homework. I’m proud to be able to deliver these results for to improve education outcomes for our students.”

The final draft underwent four consecutive public hearings through the Board of Education Standards before receiving a 7-0 vote. 

Several significant updates were made to improve clarity and readability, ensure alignment across grade levels, and incorporate the mathematical practices within the standards. The key changes are as follows:

• Consolidation of redundant standards and more simplified terminology ensure that the standards are easily understood by educators, students, and parents;
• Updated organization and labeling for improved readability and lesson planning, without the need to cross reference across grade levels;
• Clearly labeled fluency standards that include expectations for how the student should compute a math problem to ensure deep comprehension from students;
• Explicit call for real-world scenarios to be applied to many of the standards and all written with a balance of conceptual understanding and the “why” behind the math;
• Increased emphasis on using drawings and visual models to support understanding, particularly in early grades; and
• Shifts in instruction with a focus on reasoning, modeling, and problem-solving are embedded throughout.

“The new standards introduce several important updates aimed at improving clarity, coherence, and instructional alignment across grade levels,” said DOE Secretary Dr. Joe Graves. “I am grateful for the leadership of Governor Rhoden, our department, and our educators for stepping up to strengthen outcomes for South Dakota students.”

The new math standards were developed by the South Dakota Department of Education (DOE) through research and input from K-12 educators and the post-secondary education field. This included deep analyses of a wide array of state mathematics plans, meta-analyses, and other standards to construct the best possible standards for South Dakota students.  Shifting away from inquiry to explicit instruction while maintaining a high level of rigor was a key focus.

“We are approaching education with common sense, empowering parents and everyone in the community to be equipped to support our students,” said Steve Perkins, President of the South Dakota Board of Education Standards. “With common sense math, the science of reading, and strong social studies standards, we are building a stronger foundation for success for the lives of South Dakota’s K-12 students. I am grateful for Governor Rhoden’s continued leadership and support of education in our state.”

The BOES also passed updated Health standards at their meeting. DOE will begin implementing these new standards along with continued leadership on training teachers in the Science of Reading, as outlined in Governor Rhoden‘s State of the State Address.

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