A new report, set to be released on January 10, 2025, takes an in-depth look at the current state of early childhood education and care in South Dakota, providing critical insights into the landscape and challenges that children, families, employers, and educators across the state currently face.

Titled “Sustainable Solutions for Transforming Child Care in South Dakota,” the report compiles data from national and state data sources, including surveys and expert interviews to assess the strengths and gaps in South Dakota’s current early childhood infrastructure. The comprehensive study examines key issues such as access to high-quality child care, affordability, and workforce development, and proposes policy considerations on early childhood initiatives.

On January 10, 2025, the South Dakota Child Care Task Force and The Hunt Institute will jointly present the finished report via Zoom. Stakeholders, community leaders, and the public are invited to participate in the release event to explore the findings in detail and to ask further questions.

For more information about the upcoming report or to access the full publication, visit the Early Learner South Dakota website or the Center for Prevention of Child Maltreatment website. To register for the release event, please click here.

Background:
Throughout 2024, the South Dakota Child Care Task Force convened four times, discussing the early childhood landscape in South Dakota and seeking sustainable solutions. The Hunt Institute, a trusted partner of the Task Force, helped convene these meetings as well as develop the report. This report is designed to lay the groundwork for stakeholders in South Dakota to develop effective solutions to the lingering child care deficit in the state.

About the South Dakota Child Care Task Force:
The South Dakota Child Care Task Force was launched in 2023, convening state stakeholders including policymakers, early childhood experts, and representatives from child care centers, Family Child Care homes, philanthropy, and higher education. The Task Force was developed to explore and recommend practical and sustainable solutions to the state’s child care crisis that are aligned with the state’s economic and cultural landscape.

About The Hunt Institute:
The Hunt Institute, an affiliate of the Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy, is a recognized leader in the movement to transform public education. Marshaling expertise from a nationwide partner network since its establishment in 2001, The Institute brings together people and resources that help build and nurture visionary leadership and mobilize strategic action for greater educational outcomes and student success. For more information, please visit: http://www.hunt-institute.org/.