Winner: Black Hills Special Services Cooperative

Black Hills Special Services Cooperative

2023 Bush Prize: South Dakota Winner

Grant Amount: $500,000

Website: https://bhssc.org/

BHSSC practices innovative and collaborative processes in a number of ways in their work with schools and families across South Dakota. BHSSC provides specialized educational services and resources to cater to the unique learning needs of students and families in the Black Hills region and across the state. BHSSC is a champion for community-led education across the state, acting collaboratively as a liaison between schools and government requirements. BHSSC has recently focused on boosting family engagement in education and works to empower local school leaders to better engage and include families in education initiatives. BHSSC conducts leadership training internally as well as in the communities they serve. Every school community is unique, and BHSSC works with each school to adapt programming and meet students and families where they are in order to improve student outcomes.