Education & Schools

Adjusts funding requirements for special education programs.

This bill modifies South Dakota's special education funding by increasing the amount set aside for extraordinary expenses from $4 million to $5 million starting July 1, 2026. Beginning July 1, 2027, both the annual set-aside amount and the maximum reserve cap will increase annually by an index factor. The bill also changes the decision-making process for expenditures from oversight board recommendation and secretary approval to a process defined in section 13-37-60.

Funds construction of a new indoor sports facility at Dakota State University.

This bill appropriates $13,330,000 to the Board of Regents for the design and construction of an indoor athletics facility at Dakota State University's Beacom PREMIER Complex in Madison. The bill allows for cost adjustments up to 125% of the estimated amount due to inflation and regulatory changes, permits acceptance of external funding sources, and declares an emergency for immediate implementation.

Allows schools to place disruptive students in alternative classrooms.

This bill creates new authority for school boards to assign students to alternative educational settings when those students exhibit aggressive or violent behaviors that disrupt the school or affect health and safety factors of the school or its programs. The bill includes protections ensuring it cannot limit existing enrollment options or conflict with federal disability education laws.

Requires voter approval when school districts want to raise property taxes.

This bill eliminates the 'opt-out' procedure for school district excess tax levies and mandates that all excess tax levies (both for general fund and capital outlay purposes) must be approved by voter election. Currently, school districts can impose excess tax levies with a two-thirds governing body vote, subject to a potential referendum if petitioned by voters. The bill removes the petition requirement and makes elections mandatory for all excess tax levies.

Changes what school districts can spend capital funds on.

This bill reorganizes and expands the permissible uses of a school district's capital outlay fund. The bill restructures the existing law into a numbered list format and adds new permitted expenditures including: property insurance premiums, up to 15% of transportation contracts or mileage reimbursement costs, warranties on capital assets (excluding supplies), textbooks, and instructional software purchases or renewals. The bill maintains existing provisions for real property, facilities, equipment, installment payments, and capital outlay certificates.

Updates background check requirements for school employees.

This bill makes minor word changes to school employee criminal background check requirements. It changes references from 'school district' to just 'school' in multiple sections, changes 'any accredited school' to 'a school' in the reporting requirements, and removes 'South Dakota' from certain references. The substantive requirements for criminal background investigations, employment restrictions, and reporting obligations remain unchanged.

Changes the required courses for high school graduation.

This bill directs the South Dakota Board of Education Standards to amend administrative rules for high school graduation requirements. The changes are primarily technical, replacing 'units' with 'credits' throughout and making minor grammatical edits. It adds that agriculture science courses can be substituted for one science credit (except biology), similar to existing computer science substitution rules. It also reorganizes language about advanced endorsements and extracurricular fine arts credit without substantive changes.

Allows high school students to earn academic credit for playing sports.

This bill directs the South Dakota Board of Education Standards to amend administrative rules regarding high school graduation requirements. The main change allows students to earn up to one-half credit in physical education for participation in school-sanctioned extracurricular varsity athletic activities (maximum one-fourth credit per activity per school year). The bill also makes technical changes to terminology throughout the graduation requirements, changing 'units' to 'credits' and making other minor linguistic updates.