South Dakota Education Association ensures the collective voice for South Dakota public education professionals. It is a professional organization working hard for educators, so they can continue to work hard for kids. SDEA members provide a range of professional education services across the state. Since its foundation, SDEA members have been central to advancing public education for every child.
The SDEA Racial Justice Grant, supported by an NEA Racial Justice grant, aims to create opportunities for members to apply for grants to be used in their classroom or school, promoting racial and social justice. The grants are available in amounts of $250 for a classroom and $500 for a school-wide initiative, with a total of $10,000 available for member grants. These grants support projects focusing on fostering tolerance for different cultural perspectives, creating educational equity for Native American students, connecting with South Dakota's Native American populations, building relationships among students of varying cultural backgrounds, and developing strategies for effective cross-cultural communications. Projects that receive funding will need to provide an evaluation within 30 days of completion, and successful projects may be considered for posting on SDEA's Bridges professional learning website.