South Dakota is working to ensure its schools are safe and supportive. This page features school climate information for South Dakota, including a list of grants the State and its communities have received; State discipline and bullying policies; data for a selection of indicators; and related news articles.
Grant Received
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed into law in 2015. The Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) program falls under ESSA, subpart 1 of Title IV, Part A. The SSAE program is intended to improve students’ academic achievement by increasing the capacity of State educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), and local communities to provide all students with access to a well-rounded education; improve school conditions for student learning; and improve the use of technology to improve the academic achievement and digital literacy of all students. States receive funds in the form of block grants and then fund local education agencies. To learn more, visit the T4PA Center website.
Local Educational Agency and District Grant Programs
In 2022, the Core Educational Cooperative received a School-Based Mental Health Services grant. This district is using this 5-year grant to increase the number of qualified (i.e., licensed, certified, well-trained, or credentialed, as defined in the notice inviting applications) mental health service providers that provide school-based mental health services to students in local educational agencies (LEAs) with demonstrated need. To find out more about this grant, visit: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/10/04/2022-21631/applications-for-new-awards-school-based-mental-health-services-grant-program.
Institution of Higher of Education
In 2023, The University of South Dakota received a Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration grant. This university is using this 5-year grant to support and demonstrate innovative partnerships to train school-based mental health services providers for employment in schools and local educational agencies (LEAs). The goal of this program is to expand the pipeline of high-quality, trained providers to address the shortages of mental health service professionals in schools served by high-need LEAs. To find out more about this program, visit: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/11/28/2022-25824/applications-for-new-awards-mental-health-service-professional-demonstration-grant-program.
Indicator 1: Threatened or Injured with a Weapon on School Property
Indicator 1: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported They Had Been Threatened or Injured with a Weapon (For Example, a Gun, Knife, or Club) on School Property One or More Times During the 12 Months Before the Survey
This state did not participate in data collection in 2017.
Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on November 20, 2024.
| Indicator 1: Threatened or Injured with a Weapon on School Property | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | South Dakota | US |
| 2009 | 6.8 | 7.7 |
| 2011 | 6.0 | 7.4 |
| 2013 | 5.0 | 6.9 |
| 2015 | 7.3 | 6.0 |
| 2019 | 8.1 | 7.4 |
| 2021 | 6.9 | 6.6 |
| 2023 | 9.5 | 9.0 |
Indicator 2: Involved in Physical Fight on School Property
Indicator 2: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported Having Been in a Physical Fight on School Property One or More Times During the 12 Months Before the Survey
This state did not participate in data collection in 2017.
Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on November 20, 2024.
| Indicator 2: Involved in Physical Fight on School Property | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | South Dakota | US |
| 2009 | 8.3 | 11.1 |
| 2011 | 8.2 | 12.0 |
| 2013 | 6.6 | 8.1 |
| 2015 | 6.8 | 7.8 |
| 2019 | 6.1 | 8.0 |
| 2021 | 3.7 | 5.8 |
| 2023 | 7.4 | 7.9 |
Indicator 3: Offered, Sold, or Given Illegal Drugs on School Property
Indicator 3: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported that they Were Offered, Sold, or Given an Illegal Drug by Someone on School Property During the 12 Months Before the Survey
This state did not participate in data collection in 2017 or 2023.
Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on November 20, 2024.
| Indicator 3: Offered, Sold, or Given Illegal Drugs on School Property | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | South Dakota | US |
| 2009 | 17.7 | 22.7 |
| 2011 | 16.0 | 25.6 |
| 2013 | 15.4 | 22.1 |
| 2015 | 19.0 | 21.7 |
| 2019 | 15.1 | 21.8 |
| 2021 | 21.5 | 13.9 |
Indicator 4: Seriously Considered Attempting Suicide
Indicator 4: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported They Seriously Considered Attempting Suicide During the 12 Months Before the Survey
This state did not participate in data collection in 2017.
Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on November 20, 2024.
| Indicator 4: Seriously Considered Attempting Suicide | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | South Dakota | US |
| 2009 | 17.0 | 15.8 |
| 2011 | 17.8 | 15.8 |
| 2013 | 16.0 | 17.0 |
| 2015 | 16.1 | 17.7 |
| 2019 | 23.1 | 18.8 |
| 2021 | 21.5 | 22.2 |
| 2023 | 17.1 | 20.4 |
Indicator 5: Bullied On School Property
Indicator 5: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported Being Bullied On School Property During the 12 Months Before the Survey
This state did not have data for this indicator in 2009. This state did not participate in data collection in 2017.
Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on November 20, 2024.
| Indicator 5: Bullied On School Property | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | South Dakota | US |
| 2011 | 26.7 | 20.1 |
| 2013 | 24.3 | 19.6 |
| 2015 | 21.6 | 20.2 |
| 2019 | 21.2 | 19.5 |
| 2021 | 18.4 | 15.0 |
| 2023 | 26.8 | 19.2 |