South Dakota School Climate Policy

                   

                           SOUTH DAKOTA 

South Dakota has 185 school districts and 697 public schools. During the 2021-2022 school year, there were 137,468 students enrolled in K-12 public schools. About 42% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches. There is no explicit policy regarding a school climate survey, but there are several other policies regarding school climate. Those policies include bullying prevention, disaster plans, suicide awareness and prevention, special education, character development, and education and blocking of obscene materials on public use computers. There is a policy that permits the wearing of traditional tribal regalia or objects of cultural significance at graduation ceremonies. There is also a policy that requires every teacher to take a 3-credit hour course in South Dakota Indian studies. 

Safety

There is currently no policy surrounding School Climate in South Dakota. For more information on school climate, please visit us at Services – National School Climate Center

South Dakota Codified Laws 13-32-15 Bullying defined.

Defines bullying and behaviors and mediums that count as bullying. 

https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/2042163

 South Dakota Codified Laws 13-32-14. School districts are required to adopt a policy prohibiting bullying.

If a school district does not have a bullying policy, the school district shall follow the model bullying policy in §13-32-19 until the school district adopts its bullying policy.

https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/2042162

 South Dakota Codified Laws §13-32-19. Model bullying policy.

States that schools should provide a safe school climate that is conducive to learning and the impact bullying can have on students emotionally. This policy outlines things schools should be doing at least to provide a safe environment until they have their policy. 

https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/2042167

 South Dakota Codified Laws 13-32-16 Bullying policy requirements.

The developed bullying prohibition policy needs to include a definition of bullying, a description of the type of behavior expected of students, the consequences of committing an act of bullying, the procedure for reporting bullying, and the investigation after the report of bullying. 

https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/2042164

South Dakota Codified Laws §13-32-18. Incidents involving electronic devices.

Bullying that occurs off-school and through online platforms or devices still can result in disciplinary action. 

https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/2042166

South Dakota Codified Laws §13-32-17. Action for damages from bullying-Immunity for reporting.

Any school district employee, school volunteer, student, or parent who promptly reports an act of bullying to the appropriate school district official and makes the report in compliance with the provisions of the school district’s policy is immune from any cause of action for damages arising from failure to remedy the reported incident.

https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/2042165


Who does this protect? Students

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No

Administrative Rules of South Dakota 24:43:09:01. Disaster plan and drills.

A written plan for the safety of pupils and conducted fire, tornado, and other disaster drills per such a plan.

https://sdlegislature.gov/Rules/Administrative/28990

South Dakota Codified Laws 13-32-7 Possession of firearm or dangerous weapon public elementary or secondary school premises or in vehicle or building as a misdemeanor—Exceptions.  

Any person, other than a law enforcement officer or school sentinel, who carries possesses, stores, keeps leaves, places, or puts into the possession of another person, any dangerous weapon or firearm, on or in any public-school premise, vehicle, or building is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. 

South Dakota Codified Laws 13-64-1 School board may implement a school sentinel program.

Any school board may create, establish, and supervise the arming of school employees, hired security personnel, or volunteers in such a manner if they believe it will keep everyone in the school safe.

https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/2043145


Who does this protect? Students, Staff

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No

South Dakota Codified Laws 13-42-71 Suicide awareness and prevention training requirements.

The board shall, after consultation with suicide prevention or counseling experts, identify evidence-based resources that will be available to school districts

https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/2042500

South Dakota Codified Laws 13-33-6.1 Character development instruction.

Character development instruction shall be given in all public and nonpublic elementary and secondary schools focusing on the importance of citizenship, patriotism, honesty, self-discipline, self-respect, sexual abstinence, and respect for the contributions of minority and ethnic groups to the heritage of South Dakota, regard for the elderly, and respect for authority.

https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/2042175


Who does this protect? Students, Students of color, ELL students, and staff

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

Teaching/Learning

Administrative Rules of South Dakota 24:55:01:01. Definitions.

Alternative schools are programs outside of the traditional setting whereby students receive instruction as an extension of the regular or traditional school environment.

https://sdlegislature.gov/Rules/Administrative/32825

South Dakota Codified Laws 13-37-1. Children in need of special education or special education and related services.

Any person under the age of twenty-one who is a resident of South Dakota and is not adequately provided through the usual facilities and services of the school due to a disability has a right to special education.

https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/2042255


Who does this protect? Students, Students with disabilities

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

Administrative Rules of South Dakota 24:43:01:01. Definitions.

Capstone experiences are a culminating high school experience designed to integrate knowledge, skills, and concepts gained from a student’s program of study which includes service learning.

https://sdlegislature.gov/#/Rules/Administrative/28938

Administrative Rules of South Dakota 24:43:11:07. Required high school unit offerings.

Service learning is required for students to be able to get the credit they need to graduate.

https://sdlegislature.gov/Rules/Administrative/29006

 


Who does this protect? Students

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No

Interpersonal Relationships

South Dakota Codified Laws 13-1-66 Wearing of traditional tribal regalia or objects of cultural significance at school honoring or graduation ceremony to be permitted.

https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/2041282


Who does this protect? Students

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No

South Dakota Codified Laws 13-42-71 Suicide awareness and prevention training requirements.

Include a minimum of one hour of suicide awareness and prevention training as a requirement that an applicant must meet to be issued an initial certificate and a renewal certificate as a teacher, administrator, or other educational professionals.

https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/2042500

Administrative Rules of South Dakota 24:28:17:12. Renewal requirements for teacher certification.

The professional and advanced educator certificate is valid for five years and will need to be renewed after five years passes.

https://sdlegislature.gov/#/Rules/Administrative/38901

South Dakota Codified Laws 13-1-48 South Dakota Indian studies course for teachers.

Any teacher new to the profession, from out-of-state, or certified after 1993 shall complete a three-credit-hour course in South Dakota Indian studies.

https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/2041264

 


Who does this protect? Staff, Students

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No

South Dakota Codified Laws 13-42-71 Suicide awareness and prevention training requirements.

The board shall, after consultation with suicide prevention or counseling experts, identify evidence-based resources that will be available to school districts.

https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/2042500

South Dakota Codified Laws 13-33-6.1 Character development instruction.

Character development instruction shall be given in all public and nonpublic elementary and secondary schools focusing on the importance of citizenship, patriotism, honesty, self-discipline, self-respect, sexual abstinence, and respect for the contributions of minority and ethnic groups to the heritage of South Dakota, regard for the elderly, and respect for authority.

https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/2042175

South Dakota Codified Laws 13-37-1. Children in need of special education or special education and related services.

Any person under the age of twenty-one who is a resident of South Dakota and is not adequately provided through the usual facilities and services of the school due to a disability has a right to special education.

https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/2042255


Who does this protect? Students

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

Institutional Environments

 

There is no policy surrounding School Connectedness is South Dakota. For more information on school climate, please visit us at Services – National School Climate Center

Administrative Rules of South Dakota 24:43:09:01. Disaster plan and drills.

A written plan for the safety of pupils and conduct fire, tornado, and other disaster drills by such a plan.

https://sdlegislature.gov/Rules/Administrative/28990

South Dakota Codified Laws 13-32-7 Possession of firearm or dangerous weapon public elementary or secondary school premises or in vehicle or building as a misdemeanor—Exceptions.

 Any person, other than a law enforcement officer or school sentinel, who carries possesses, stores, keeps leaves, places, or puts into the possession of another person, any dangerous weapon or firearm, on or in any public-school premise, vehicle, or building is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

South Dakota Codified Laws 13-64-1 School board may implement a school sentinel program.

Any school board may create, establish, and supervise the arming of school employees, hired security personnel, or volunteers in such a manner if they believe it will keep everyone in the school safe.

https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/2043145

 


Who does this protect? Students, Staff

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No

 

There is no current policy surrounding Social Inclusion in the state of South Dakota. For more information on school climate, please visit us at Services – National School Climate Center

Social Media

South Dakota Codified Laws 22-24-55 Public schools to restrict access to obscene materials on public access computers.

Equip the computer with software that will limit minors’ ability to gain access to obscene materials or purchase internet connectivity from an internet service provider that provides filter services to limit access to obscene materials.

https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/2047396


Who does this protect? Students

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No

There is currently no policy surrounding Leadership in South Dakota. For more information on school climate, please visit us at Services – National School

There is currently no policy surrounding Professional Relationships in South Dakota. For more information on school climate, please visit us at Services – National School

Sources include: nasbe.org and childtrends.org