South Dakota Department of Education Logo. Link to homepage.         A-Z Index      Contact Us





 

Educator Preparation Providers

Educator Preparation Provider State Rules Article 24:53

The Educator Preparation Provider assures that K-12 educators are well prepared and qualified to serve South Dakota schools. Rules adopted by the South Dakota Board of Education Standards establish standards that educators must meet to be recommended for certification; the rules also provide the standards for postsecondary institutions' educator preparation programs. Any institution seeking to recommend candidates for certification must have its programs approved by the State Board of Education

Educator Preparation Provider Approval

To be eligible to request approval of programs that prepare educational personnel to meet certification requirements in accordance with article 24:28, institutions must provide evidence of compliance with regional approval and eligibility for Title IV funding as stated in SDCL 13-49-27.1.

At least once every seven years, the department shall conduct an onsite review of each educator preparation provider and each program for the preparation of education personnel offered by a four-year, regionally accredited institution that has applied for state approval.* After the department has verified that the standards in article 24:53 have been met by the educator preparation provider and each program, the South Dakota Board of Education Standards may grant initial or continuing approval to the educator preparation provider and program that were reviewed. In order to receive and maintain approval, the educator preparation provider must submit the following to the department every seven years:

  1. A self-study report*, as outlined in the department's Educator Preparation Provider Approval and Program Approval Review Handbook: Guidelines for Institutions of Higher Education in the State of South Dakota; and
  2. Evidence of candidate competencies as required in chapters 24:53:04 and 24:53:10 and 24:53:11.
For institutions seeking initial or continuing accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), the department shall conduct joint reviews of the educator preparation provider and its education programs as outlined in the partnership agreement between the department and the accrediting agency. The Board of Education Standards shall make the final decision on state program approval.

*Institutions may choose either a State Accreditation Review or a CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation) Accreditation review.

**Self-Study Reports are due 9 months prior to the site visit.

State Accreditation Review Resources
CAEP Accreditation Review Resources
Program Review

The institution s educator preparation programs must be reviewed prior to the Educator Preparation Provider onsite review. An EPP may choose one of the following three options (or a combination of them):

  • SPA review program reports are reviewed by national Specialized Professional Associations program reports are due 2 years prior to on-site review.
  • State Program Review program reports reviewed by South Dakota Department of Education - program reports are due 1 year prior to On-site Review.
  • CAEP Evidence Review of Standard One (formerly known as CAEP Program Review with Feedback) - EPPs will build a case for CAEP Standard 1 and submit complete evidence for the standard as part of the self-study report. The evidence will address candidate proficiencies relevant to the learner and learning, specialty content and content pedagogy, instructional practice, and professional responsibilities. Data will be disaggregated data by licensure areas, degree levels, and modes of delivery. EPPs describe how they use the evidence for continuous improvement.
Programs Subject to Approval
For State and CAEP program reviews

Educator Preparation Programs should contact the DOE Office of Accreditation for required report templates specific to each program.
Birth Grade 3 Early Childhood 5-12 Agriculture Education
Birth Grade 3 Special Education 5-12 Business Education
K-8 Elementary Education 5-12 Career and Technical Education
K-12 Art Education (NAEA) 5-12 Drama/Theater
K-12 Art Education (NASAD) 5-12 English Language Arts Education
K-12 Comprehensive School Health Education 5-12 ELA (Mass Comm/Journalism)
K-12 Educational Technology/Computer Education 5-12 ELA (Speech/Debate)
K-12 Music Education 5-12 Family and Consumer Science
K-12 Physical Education 5-12 Industrial Technology
K-12 South Dakota Indian Studies Education 5-12 Mathematics Education
K-12 Special Education 5-12 Mathematics/Science Composite
K-12 Reading Specialist 5-12 Science Education
K-12 World Language Education 5-12 Social Science Education
PK 12 Principal PK-12 Curriculum Director
PK-12 Career Superintendent Birth to 21 School Psychologist
Certification Only PK-12 School Counselor


Approved Educator Preparation Providers
**Click on +Provider to view contact information, accreditation status and approved programs
Augustana University
Augustana University
Accreditation Status: Current - State
Last Approval: January 2021 Next Review: Fall 2027
Reviewed Programs Approved
K-8 Elementary Education
K-12 Art
K-12 Comprehensive School Health Education
K-12 Music
K-12 Physical Education
K-12 Special Education
K-12 World Language
  • French
  • Spanish
5-12 English Language Arts
  • English Education
  • Speech/Debate
5-12 Mathematics
5-12 Science
  • 5-12 Science composite
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Physics
5-12 Math Science Composite
5-12 Social Science
  • History
  • Political Science
Black Hills State University
Black Hills State University
Accreditation Status: Initial and *Advanced Programs Current CAEP
Last Approval: January, 2019 Next Review: Spring 2025
Reviewed Programs Approved
Early Childhood Special Education
K-8 Elementary Education
K-12 Art
K-12 Music
K-12 Physical Education
K-12 Special Education
K-12 World Language - Spanish
5-12 Business
5-12 English Language Arts
  • English Education
  • Mass Communication/Drama/Theatre Composite
5-12 Mathematics
5-12 Mathematics/Science Composite
5-12 Science
  • Science Composite
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
5-12 Social Science
  • Social Science Composite
  • History
Certification Only Programs
*K-12 Reading Specialist Master's Degree
Dakota State University
Dakota State University
Accreditation Status: Current - CAEP
Last Approval: January 2024 Next Review: Spring 2029
Reviewed Programs Approved
K-8 Elementary Education
K-12 Special Education
K-12 Computer Science
K-12 Physical Education
5-12 Business
5-12 English Language Arts
5-12 Mathematics
5-12 Science - Biology
Certification Only Program
Dakota Wesleyan University
Dakota Wesleyan University
Accreditation Status: Current - State
Last Approval: May, 2018 Next Review: Fall 2024
Reviewed Programs Approved
K-8 Elementary Education
K-12 Music
K-12 Special Education
5-12 English Language Arts
5-12 Mathematics
5-12 Science - Biology
5-12 Social Science - History
Mt Marty University
Mt Marty University
Accreditation Status: Current - State
Last Approval: May, 2018 Next Review: Fall 2024
Reviewed Programs Approved
K-8 Elementary Education
K-12 Physical Education
K-12 Special Education
5-12 English Language Arts
5-12 Mathematics
5-12 Science
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
5-12 Social Science - History
Northern State University
Northern State University
Accreditation Status: Current - CAEP; Advanced Programs* - Current- CAEP
Last Approval: January 2024 Next Review: Spring 2028
Reviewed Programs Approved
K-8 Elementary Education
K-12 Art
K-12 Music Education
K-12 Physical Education
*K-12 Principal
K-12 School Counselor - CACREP accredited through 2025
K-12 Special Education
K-12 World Language - Spanish
5-12 English Language Arts
5-12 History
5-12 Mathematics
5-12 Science
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
Certification Only
Oglala Lakota College
Oglala Lakota College
Accreditation Status: Current - State
Last Approval: January, 2020 Next Review: Fall, 2026
Reviewed Programs Approved
Birth Grade 3 Early Childhood
K-8 Elementary Education
K-12 South Dakota Indian Studies Education
K-12 Special Education
5-12 Science Education
PK 12 Principal
Sinte Gleska University
Sinte Gleska University
Accreditation Status: Current - State
Last Approval: January, 2019 Next Review: Spring, 2025
Reviewed Programs Approved
K-8 Elementary Education
K-8 Elementary Education/Special Education
South Dakota State University
South Dakota State University
Accreditation Status: Current - CAEP
Last Approval: July 2022 Next Review: Fall 2026
Reviewed Programs Approved
Birth - Age 8 Early Childhood
K-12 Art
K-12 Music
K-12 Physical Education
K-12 Principal
K-12 School Counselor
K-12 World Language
  • French
  • German
  • Spanish
5-12 Agriculture Education
5-12 English Language Arts
  • English Education
  • Speech/Debate
5-12 Family and Consumer Sciences
5-12 Mathematics
5-12 Science
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Physics
5-12 Social Science
  • History
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
University of Sioux Falls
University of Sioux Falls
Accreditation Status: Current - CAEP
Last Approval: January, 2024 Next Review: Spring 2030
Reviewed Programs Approved
K-8 Elementary Education
K-12 Art
K-12 Music
K-12 Principal
K-12 Reading Specialist
K-12 Special Education
K-12 Superintendent
K-12 World Language - Spanish
5-12 English Language Arts
  • Language Arts Education
5-12 Mathematics
5-12 Science - Biology
5-12 Social Science - History
Certification Only Program
University of South Dakota
University of South Dakota
Accreditation Status: Current - CAEP
Last Approval: July 2022 Next Review: Fall 2025
Reviewed Programs Approved
P-12 Special Education Director
K-8 Elementary Education
K-12 Art
K-12 Curriculum Director
K-12 Music Education
K-12 Physical Education
K-12 Principal
K-12 Reading Specialist
K-12 School Counselor - CACREP no penalty accreditation extension through Spring 2025
K-12 Special Education
K-12 Superintendent
K-12 World Language
  • French
  • Spanish
5-12 English Language Arts
  • Language Arts Education
  • Speech/Debate
5-12 Mathematics
5-12 Science
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Physics
5-12 Social Science
  • History
Certification Only Program


For any questions relating to Teacher Education Programs, contact Kathy Riedy with the SD Department of Education at 605-773-4774.

Administrative Rules