This information was produced by the staff of the Belin-Blank International Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development (B-BC) at the University of Iowa (belinblank.org). The resources and information listed here are for informational purposes; there is no direct or implied endorsement by the B-BC. Services provided by the B-BC include programs for academically talented K-12 and college students, professional development for teachers, the Assessment and Counseling Clinic, the Acceleration Institute (accelerationinstitute.org), and graduate programs and research in gifted education.

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State Policies in South Dakota  

South Dakota does not have a state policy on acceleration. Local education agencies (LEAs) determine whether and to what extent acceleration is permitted.

Grade-based Acceleration

Early entrance to kindergarten

No state policy; up to LEA to determine. In general, children must be 5 years old before September 1 to enroll in kindergarten.

Early entrance to 1st gradeIf you know where to find this information, please e-mail us.
Whole-grade accelerationThe legislature has removed all state-wide requirements for gifted education. Gifted programming is left up to the local districts.
Early high school graduationSouth Dakota's Graduation Requirements specify the types and quantities of credits students must earn to graduate, but it is not clear if students will be permitted to graduate early.
Early entrance to collegeIf you know where to find this information, please e-mail us.

Content-based Acceleration

Dual or concurrent enrollment in community college, college, or universityState policy specifically permits dual enrollment in high school and college beginning in grade 11. State policy also allows students to receive high school credit for college courses. Dual Enrollment options at the University of South Dakota can be found here,
Middle school students permitted dual or concurrent enrollment in high school

State policy does not permit dual enrollment in middle and high school.
Advanced Placement®State policy permits. Additional information can be found at Advanced Placement.
Talent SearchThere is no in-state Talent Search for South Dakota, but gifted students in SD can participate in regional and national talent searches, including those offered by the University of Iowa Belin-Blank Center and the Northwestern University Center for Talent Development.
Credit by examination/proficiency-based promotion

State policy specifically permits proficiency-based promotion. Each LEA can submit tests for SEA approval for use in demonstrating proficiency, and each LEA is responsible for determining advancement options after proficiency.
Other forms of content-based acceleration

Typically left to LEAs to determine. If you know of state-level code, please e-mail us.

Additional Information

South Dakota Department of Education

The information presented on this page was compiled from a variety of resources, including the State of the States in Gifted Education 2020-2021 (a report by the Council of State Directors of Programs for the Gifted and the National Association for Gifted Children), Websites, professional literature, and personal communication. The Acceleration Institute has not verified the accuracy of this information and does not warrant its accuracy or fitness of use for any purpose. Users should verify information prior to taking any action. Furthermore, the appearance of selected programs and/or resources does not imply an endorsement or affiliation. Programs and resources are highlighted for informational purposes only.