October 17, 2025
 Industrial Commission announces support for furloughed federal employees
Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden, state legislators and representatives from North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) visited Best in Class programs to observe how they promote quality early learning experiences for children in the year before kindergarten.
Children enrolled in North Dakota’s Best in Class early childhood program showed remarkable growth across every area of development during the 2024–25 school year. In fall 2024, 79% of children met or exceeded literacy standards; by spring, 96% did, with the share exceeding expectations rising from 1% to 22%. Math outcomes showed similar gains, with 60% meeting expectations in the fall and none exceeding, compared to 93% meeting or exceeding by spring, including 23% exceeding expectations. Children also made strong progress in life skills, physical development, language, and cognitive skills, demonstrating the lasting impact of high-quality early learning experiences on school readiness and lifelong success.
“Today we had an incredible opportunity to visit multiple Best in Class locations along the I-94 corridor. What we witnessed were quality environments, incredible educators and engaged children,” Strinden said. “The Best in Class investment is one that needs to continue as we strive to expand high-quality early childhood experiences across our great state.”
A growing investment in North Dakota’s youngest learners
Launched during the 2021-22 program year, Best in Class began with 24 early childhood programs, 28 classrooms and 371 children. Today, 64 programs, 94 classrooms and 1,239 children across the state are participating, representing a 260% increase in the number of children served over five years.
This growth has been supported by increased legislative funding dedicated to expanding access to quality early learning experiences, which allows more programs to participate and more families to benefit. Lawmakers approved additional funding for the 2025-26 program year to support new classrooms and sustain coaching, professional development and quality improvements statewide. Through Best in Class, participating programs receive funding, professional coaching and ongoing support to strengthen classroom environments, teaching practices and family engagement. Award amounts for the 2025-26 program year range from $15,000 to $120,000 per classroom, based on the number of children served and total operating hours.
“When we invest in those who care for children, we foster connection, resilience and hope in their earliest years – instilling healthy practices in North Dakota’s future leaders,” said HHS Commissioner Pat Traynor. “High-quality, play-based learning experiences help children build essential social, emotional and cognitive skills, ensuring they are ready to thrive in kindergarten and beyond.”
Best in Class is grounded in more than 25 years of research showing that high-quality early childhood experiences have long-term benefits for children’s development and future success. Teaching staff in participating classrooms are coached to implement play-based curriculum, authentic observation methods and individualized learning strategies that support growth across all domains of development.
Throughout the tour of the five Best in Class programs, leaders shared how the program’s coaching and support emphasize nurturing the whole child – integrating health screenings, play-based learning and intentional kindergarten transition activities to support children’s growth and development in every aspect, illustrating the power of quality early learning environments.
Best in Class remains a cornerstone of North Dakota’s early childhood strategy, supporting programs that provide at least 400 hours of high-quality learning over a 32-week period. The state’s continued investment ensures more families have access to meaningful early learning opportunities close to home.
 Industrial Commission shares support for developing new Roughrider stablecoin
The North Dakota Industrial Commission shared its support for a new partnership between the Bank of North Dakota (BND) and its core banking services provider, Fiserv, to develop the state’s very own stablecoin, named the Roughrider coin, putting North Dakota on the leading edge of digital currency backed by real assets.
“The Roughrider coin is a cutting-edge approach to improving efficiency and quality control in the banking sector, a direct benefit for our residents,” the Industrial Commission, which oversees BND, said in a joint statement. “As the only state-owned bank in the country, BND has charted its own path numerous times over the last 106 years to benefit North Dakota residents. This is the next chapter in its financial innovation story.”
The value of a stablecoin is directly tied to a real asset such as the U.S. dollar or a physical commodity such as gold, as opposed to traditional, more volatile cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum whose values fluctuate based on supply, market demand and investor sentiment. Stablecoins also offer the benefits of blockchain technology – speed, efficiency, and accessibility – while providing stability more like traditional financial assets.
With the recent passage and signing of the GENIUS Act, Congress established the framework for payment stablecoins by requiring they be backed with high-quality assets, mandated disclosures and audits, ensured reserve transparency and created rules for permitted issuers. The GENIUS Act establishes stablecoin as an accepted part of the financial system, allowing faster, more secure bank-to-bank transactions anywhere in the world.
“For 106 years, Bank of North Dakota has supported our state’s financial institutions. As financial technology continues to rapidly evolve, this support is more important than ever,” BND President and CEO Don Morgan said. “Roughrider coin will enable financial institutions to move money more quickly, safety and efficiently, allow our banks and credit unions to offer new and creative financial products to their customers, and prepare the industry for the possibility of broader merchant adoption of stablecoin transactions.”
On Sept. 30, the Industrial Commission gave BND its blessing to work with Fiserv to develop a beta version of the Roughrider coin. The stablecoin is expected to be available to banks and credit unions in North Dakota sometime next year.
By encouraging the financial sector to adopt stablecoin first, the state is building a strong foundation for eventual use of stablecoin by merchants and their customers. And by partnering with Fiserv, the state is able to plug into existing secure blockchain rather than having to build the infrastructure from scratch.
The name Roughrider was selected as a salute to Theodore Roosevelt, who attributed his rise to President to time spent in North Dakota and will be honored in the summer of 2026 with the grand opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora. The Rough Riders were Roosevelt’s volunteer militia during the Spanish – American War.
For more information, visit bnd.nd.gov/fintech.
Read the press release from Fiserv here.
IN OTHER NEWS
Gov. Armstrong welcomed youth hunters to the field for the inaugural Governor's Youth Pheasant Hunt. North Dakota has a two-day, youth-only pheasant season to help introduce new hunters to the outdoors.
|
Lt. Gov. Strinden presented at the 19th annual UAS Summit in Grand Forks, highlighting how North Dakota’s UAS industry has flourished with private sector innovation and significant state support. The Grand Forks summit is the longest running UAS conference in the world.
|
Lt. Gov. Strinden and State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler gathered with families and community partners at the State Capitol to celebrate the launch of the Legendary Learners Literacy Storybook and Parent Guide, a new resource supporting early literacy from birth to kindergarten.
|
Gov. Armstrong attended the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Inauguration for newly elected Chairman Steve Sitting Bear and helped celebrate former Chairwoman Janet Alkire on four years of strong leadership for the tribe.
|
|
