Hearings to be held regarding certification and accreditation rules changes

The Board of Education Standards will hold public hearings on May 20 to discuss two proposed Administrative Rules packages relating to educator certification and permits.

The effect of ARSD 24:28 (Educator Certification) is to move the youth suicide awareness and prevention training requirement from the certification process to the accreditation process. The reason for adopting the proposed rule is to ensure compliance with the passage of House Bill 1020.

The effect of ARSD 24:28 (Educator Permits) would be to repeal the athletic coaching permit, move the international exchange teacher permit to reciprocity, create a one-year CTE instructor permit, and clean up language within the current rules. The proposed rules reduce the redundancy of the athletic coaching permit as SDHSAA maintains oversight of coaches; eases the burden for international teachers, the districts that hire them, and allow for their certificates to be renewable; and comply with House Bill 1178 to create the one-year CTE instructor permit.