Special education in South Dakota

What South Dakota calls special education, how long each step takes, who to call, free help, paying for services, and how the state scores.

Special education in South Dakota

Special education is called

Special Education

The IEP meeting

IEP team meeting

Eligibility team

Evaluation team

Evaluation timeline

25 school days. 25 school days from consent to complete evaluation, then 30 calendar days for reports, eligibility and IEP (ARSD 24:05:25:03)

IEP timeline

30 calendar days after the 25 school day window

Transition planning starts

16 (being checked)

Rights transfer to the student at

Developmental delay category

3 to 8 (child count)

Dyslexia law

no: SDCL 13-37-28.1 defines dyslexia; no screening mandate

Find your district and schools

165 districts and charter districts. 23 special education schools and 0 public charter schools.

Get your Hall Pass Schools in South Dakota Services for children in South Dakota (on Disability Atlas)

The state office and your options when you disagree

State special education office

South Dakota Department of Education, Special Education Programs (605) 773-3134

Procedural safeguards (your rights notice)

Read the state's notice

Mediation

Ask for mediation

State complaint

File a state complaint

Due process

Ask for a due process hearing

Free help for families

Parent centers

South Dakota Parent Connection
Parent Training and Information Center (PTI), Sioux Falls
(605) 361-3171

Disability rights agency

Disability Rights South Dakota
Protection and Advocacy Agency, Pierre
(605) 224-8294

Advocacy groups in South Dakota

Paying for it

Medicaid for children

South Dakota Medicaid

CHIP

South Dakota CHIP

Apply

Apply for coverage

Medicaid for children with disabilities, whatever the family's income

yes: Disabled Children's Program (TEFRA)

Schools bill Medicaid for health services

Autism insurance law

yes. ABA; limits permitted

Scholarship or ESA for students with disabilities

general-limited: Partners in Education tax-credit scholarship (income-limited; cap raised 2026)

How school, Medicaid and insurance fit together

How South Dakota scores

First edition. These grades are new (November 2026) and the weights may still change. Texas graduation data is being confirmed with the state.

State of Schools

C-

Rank 35 of 51

State of Support

Rank 31 of 51

Combined

C-

Rank 35 of 51

Pillar	Grade
Following the law	B+
Learning together	C+
Results	D+
School funding	F
Family protections	F
Options and transition	D+

IDEA determination 2026: Meets. How we grade.

Sources for this page are listed in the SPED Atlas research tables (state terms, state help, paying for it). Items marked "being checked" are waiting on a primary source.

Last reviewed: November 2026. Rules, programs and phone numbers change. Check with the office named on this page. Report outdated or wrong information.