Differential Pay: South Dakota

Analysis of South Dakota's policies

South Dakota does not support differential pay by which a teacher can earn additional compensation by teaching at high-need schools. However, the state has no regulatory language preventing districts from providing such differential pay.

South Dakota does offer the Dakota Corps Scholarship Program, which provides full tuition and reimbursement for generally applicable fees to selected qualified applicants who promise to enter a "critical need occupation." The required number of years to work is equal to the number of years of scholarship received, plus one year. For 2015, the state has defined the following occupations as critical need: high school math teacher, high school science teacher and elementary/secondary special education teacher. 

South Dakota also offers a salary incentive for teachers who earn National Board Certification. Teachers are eligible to receive a stipend of $2,000 a year for five years. However, this type of differential pay is not tied to teaching at high-need schools. 

Citation

Dakota Corps Scholarship Program http://www.sdbor.edu/dakotacorps/welcome.htm South Dakota Code 13-42-26

Recommendations for South Dakota

Support differential pay initiatives for effective teachers in high-need schools.
South Dakota should encourage districts to link compensation to district needs. Such policies can help districts achieve a more equitable distribution of teachers.

Expand differential pay initiatives for teachers in shortage subject areas.
Although the state's program is a desirable recruitment and retention tool for teachers early in their careers, South Dakota should expand its program to include those who are already part of the teaching pool. A salary differential is an attractive incentive for every teacher.

Consider tying National Board supplements to teaching in high-need schools.
This differential pay could be an incentive to attract some of South Dakota's most effective teachers to low-performing schools.

State response to our analysis

South Dakota recognized the factual accuracy of this analysis, although there is currently no funding for the National Board Certification incentives. The state added that it is undergoing a comprehensive examination of teacher pay and school funding through the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Task Force, which will be making recommendations in the 2016 legislative session. South Dakota also noted that it does not necessarily agree that NCTQ’s recommendations in this area best meet the needs of the state.