South Dakota Proposes $2.5M Teacher Retention Plan

Bill aims to analyze why teachers are leaving the field and how to keep them

Feb. 4, 2026 at 4:55pm

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The South Dakota House Education Committee has advanced a proposal to analyze why teachers are leaving the field and how to keep them. The $2.5 million bill, brought by Sioux Falls Democratic Rep. Erik Muckey, would have the state Department of Education work with an outside organization to collect and analyze data over three years. While some committee members expressed concerns about the price tag, the bill moved to the Legislature's budget panel on an 8-5 vote.

Why it matters

Teacher retention is a critical issue in South Dakota, with around 1,000 teachers leaving the profession last year out of a total of 10,000 statewide. Losing teachers can significantly impact students and communities, especially in rural areas. Understanding the factors driving teachers to leave and finding ways to create a stronger work environment are seen as key to addressing the teacher shortage.

The details

The proposed bill would provide $2.5 million over three years for the state Department of Education to work with an outside consulting firm, Vital Network, to collect and analyze data on why teachers are leaving the field. Vital Network has been working with North Dakota school districts on similar teacher retention efforts. Some committee members noted that salary and workload are important factors, as well as helping teachers manage student behavioral issues.

  • The House Education Committee advanced the proposal on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.
  • The bill now moves to the Legislature's budget panel, the Joint Committee on Appropriations.

The players

Erik Muckey

Sioux Falls Democratic Representative who brought the $2.5 million teacher retention proposal.

Nathan Eklund

Founder of Vital Network, a consulting firm that has been working with North Dakota school districts on teacher retention issues.

Joseph Graves

Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Education, which has had conversations with Vital Network about the project.

Roger DeGroot

Brookings Republican Representative and retired former superintendent, who expressed concerns about the funding amount and how much would go to an outside consulting firm.

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What they’re saying

“Teachers are vital public servants in our communities. Keeping the profession at the forefront is really important for our state, not just for our schools and our students, but for the workforce needs of our state.”

— Erik Muckey, Sioux Falls Democratic Representative

“When we lose our teachers, we lose our schools, and when we lose our schools, we lose our communities. We look at this as more of a retention issue, almost more so than a teacher shortage.”

— Nathan Eklund, Founder, Vital Network

What’s next

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The takeaway

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