South Dakota
U.S.
Rank
Rank
#50
Overall PPI Score: 54.2%
A beautiful and entrepreneurial business friendly state nevertheless remains solidly opposed to more expansive and entrepreneurial schools, mainly because the myth that there's is simply 'not enough students for new schools' persists. Thus, South Dakota remains one of the only four states in the nation that does not have a charter school law and a tiny tax credit scholarship program exists for a only a few students to benefit, but a bold and expansive law that creates public and private opportunities might actually result in the same kind of new population growth that states with similar terrains are experiencing.
Opportunity
Innovation
Policy Environment
Charter Schools
Score
50%
Grade: F
Rank: #50
South Dakota does not have charter schools.
Transformational Learning
Score
78%
Grade: C
Rank: #27
South Dakota has numerous options when it comes to CTE and work-based learning opportunities. It also allows competency-based graduation requirements, giving students at least some opportunities in addition to their traditional setting.
Leadership
Governor Kristi Noem has not fulfilled her vow upon taking office to “protect the rights of parents to choose the educational path that’s best for their child, whether it’s homeschooling, public schooling or a private education.” It’s time for Ms. Noem to step...
Choice Programs (Scholarships, Vouchers, Tax Credits, etc.)
Score
50%
Grade: F
Rank: #50
South Dakota provides parents with limited power to customize their students' education. The budget for the small tax-credit scholarship program was recently expanded but will still reach fewer than 1 percent of students who need it statewide.
DID YOU KNOW?
Thanks to bold state efforts, one in five students now have access to expansive opportunities for a myriad of learning approaches across public and private sectors, with more than 20 million eligible — a 60% increase in just two years!
Transparency
School report cards can be found under the “A-Z” tab or under the “Quick Links” section of South Dakota's Department of Education homepage. Report cards are comprehensive, providing information on student performance, college and career readiness, educator...
Teacher Quality
One of many data points to assess whether a state has the right policies in place to ensure teacher quality is the "use of student achievement data in teacher preparation accountability." How empty or full the fuel tank above is will give you the answer for your state.
Fast Facts:
4th Grade Math Proficiency: 41%
8th Grade Math Proficiency: 32%
4th Grade Reading Proficiency: 32%
8th Grade Reading Proficiency: 31%
Average SAT Score: 1208 / 1600
Average ACT Score: 21.1 / 36
Graduation Rate: 84%
Constitutional Issues
South Dakota has a Blaine Amendment, and the South Dakota Supreme Court has interpreted it restrictively. "That Court has explicitly rejected the distinction between aiding students and aiding the schools they choose to attend." (Institute for Justice)