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
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
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
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
Social Media
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