Online Schools: South Dakota

South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889, taking its name from the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Its rural location, geography, and culture have characterized the area for well over a century. Situated in the Midwest, the state is bisected by the Missouri River, which divides South Dakota into two areas known as the East River and West River. It is home to some of the nation's most historic landmarks, such as Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, and the Crazy Horse Memorial. Today, the service industry, agriculture, and tourism remain the most vital contributors to the South Dakotan economy.

South Dakota has made considerable gains in utilizing technology as a resource for both students and teachers. Online schools in South Dakota are available for students at the secondary and post-secondary level. In addition, the state's Department of Education provides an online mentoring program for South Dakota’s first year teachers. In 2008 the Teacher-to-Teacher Support Network was launched in order to offer mentors to teachers in remote or rural locations that may not have access to an on-site mentor. Guidance is provided through email, phone calls, and the Digital Dakota Network.

For middle and high school students, secondary online schools are now available. The South Dakota Virtual School (SDVS) offers distance courses approved by the South Dakota Department of Education. Students at public, private, and tribal schools are welcome to select from a variety of courses for credit, including ones at the Honors, Advanced Placement, credit recovery, and college preparatory levels. The school's content providers (also approved by the Department of Education) include Apex Learning, Dakota Academic Link, E-Learning Center, Black Hills State University, and the Mitchell Technical Institute. SDVS works well with students with diagnosed learning needs, providing parents and guardians with support services in order to implement accommodations and learning plans.

South Dakota online schools have experienced significant growth for undergraduate and graduate students as well as other professionals. The University of South Dakota’s (USD) Off-Campus and Distance Learning Program offers fully online bachelor’s degrees in General Studies, Health Sciences, and Nursing as well as minors in the fields of Alcohol and Drug Studies, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Health Sciences, and Sociology. The University's highly developed online graduate program offer master's in Business, Public Administration, Speech and Language Pathology, Addiction Studies, and Education Administration and Leadership. With the state's recent federal grant meant to expand its secondary STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs, SDU added an online Master of Science in Technology for Education and Training.

The second state-leading provider of distance education is Black Hills State University (BHSU), which offers over 100 online undergraduate courses in the fields of Business, Marketing, Education, American Indian Studies, and Health. A bachelor's in General Studies is available online, as well as master's in Strategic Leadership, Curriculum and Instruction, Reading, and Business Administration. Teaching endorsements and certifications have recently expanded in order to include Special Education, Library Media, and Birth through Preschool Special Education. BHSU makes use of interactive videoconferencing, in which students can see and hear the professor, ask questions, and engage in discussion as they would in a traditional classroom. With its online teacher mentoring programs, commitment to STEM research, and expansion of online schools, South Dakota is dedicated to fully preparing students and professionals for the twenty-first century.

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