ESSA: Accountability
South Dakota's final ESEA Flexibility Waiver renewal request was approved by the U.S. Department of Education on August 21, 2015. This was a renewal of the original Flexibility Waiver request approved on June 29, 2012 and extended on July 3, 2014. With the passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, all state waivers, including South Dakota's, expired August 1, 2016.
Find additional information on South Dakota’s implementation of ESSA.
The U.S. Department of Education in its renewal of the state’s flexibility waiver placed South Dakota on high risk status for the 2015-16 school year. The Department appealed that decision.
- SD DOE Appeal Letter (September 4, 2015)
Below are previous documents associated with South Dakota's Flexibility Waiver from No Child Left Behind:
- ESEA Flexibility Extension Request Approval (July 2014)
- ESEA Flexibility Extension Request (June 2014)
- ESEA Flexibility Amendments (June 2014)
- Double testing flexibility approval (January 2014)
- ESEA Flexibility Request As Amended 6/11/13
- ESEA Flexibility Waiver Amendment Approval (June 2013)
- ESEA Flexibility Waiver Amendment Request (March 2013)
- Request to Suspend Principle 3 Review (Dec 2012)
- New Principle 3 Timeline (Dec 2012)
- Revised Amendment Request (Oct 2012)
- Approved ESEA Flexibility Waiver
- ESEA Flexibility Request (submitted Feb. 26, 2012)
- DRAFT Flexibility Request (posted for public comment)
- ESEA Flexibility Accountability Addendum 2013
South Dakota began the process of developing a new statewide accountability model in September 2011. The Department of Education assembled a group of 23 individuals representing key stakeholder groups to provide recommendations regarding a next-generation accountability model for South Dakota. The group has continued to provide recommendations throughout the process of developing South Dakota’s accountability model and revising its ESEA Flexibility Waiver requests.