Teacher Certification Overview
Certification is the process of validating
the preparation of teachers and other educational
personnel in K-12 schools, and authorizing
them to serve in the capacities designated
on their certificates. Initial certification
requires verification from an accredited institution
that the candidate has met the standards of
an approved program and can be recommended
for certification. Applicants must also sign
a notarized citizenship statement and a verification
that they have not been convicted of any crime
involving moral turpitude, including traffic
in narcotics (SDCL 13-42-10). In addition,
state law requires that educators complete
human
relations and South Dakota Indian studies
courses.
Rules set by the South
Dakota Board of Education and applicable statutes
provide the framework for issuing and renewing
certificates. Authorizations, which appear
on certificates, indicate the levels of teaching
and/or administrative assignments the certificate
holder is authorized for and the subjects/areas
the certificate holder is qualified to teach.
Some authorizations are issued after the educator
completes the approved programs, generally
at the major level, and others are issued
after transcript analysis verifies that the
educator has met the minimum requirements
for authorizations outside a major.
