South Dakota Administrative Rules
Title 24 - EDUCATION
Article 24:43 - Accreditation and School Improvement
Chapter 24:43:01 - Definition of terms
Section 24:43:01:01 - Definitions

(1) "Accreditation, state," certification by the secretary that a school system meets the adopted standards of the state board for a specified school fiscal year;

(2) "ADM," average daily membership;

(3) "Approved Career and Technical Education Course," a career and technical education course within an approved career cluster program of study approved by the department and taught by a certified teacher or instructor;

(4) "Assignment," a classification of activities performed by a staff member which can be identified and described by a single record entry;

(5) "Attendance, day of," a day in which an enrolled person is present under the guidance and direction of a teacher for the minimum length of time that school is in session;

(6) "Capstone experience," a culminating high school experience designed to integrate knowledge, skills, and concepts gained from a student's program of study. Capstone experiences include:

(7) "Computer studies," a laboratory course offering instruction in computer applications, one or more computer languages, computer science, and societal impact;

(8) "Course equivalency exam," an exam aligned to state standards used by a public or nonpublic accredited school to allow students to record high school course credit without attending the actual course;

(9) "Credential," "certificate," or "permit," the document issued by the state authorizing the holder to perform services for the school system;

(10) "Division," the Division of Education Services and Support;

(11) "Distinguished high school program," the course of study a student may choose in order to meet the eligibility requirements of the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship;

(12) "Dual enrollment," the enrollment of a pupil in elementary or secondary educational programs in two or more school systems at the same time;

(13) "Elementary," an educational program for any person classified below the ninth grade or for anyone under the age of 14 before the date established by SDCL 13-28-2 who is enrolled in an unclassified nongraded school program;

(14) "Endorsement," authorization to perform in a specific capacity in a school;

(15) "Language arts courses," instruction in literature, speaking, writing, grammar, and research;

(16) "Enrollment," the total number of original entries in a given school unit in the state, the total number of original entries in public schools plus the total number of original entries in nonpublic schools;

(17) "Experimental program," an educational program for which applicable state board rules must be waived if the program is to be implemented;

(18) "Facility," a building site, a building, or a part of a building;

(19) "Fine arts courses," instruction in drama, instrumental and vocal music, and the visual, graphic, and performing arts;

(20) "FTE time," a measure of time for performing a staff assignment calculated as a fraction of a full-time assignment;

(21) "Full-time equivalency," "FTE," the amount of employed time that is normally required of a staff member to perform a full-time assignment;

(22) "Grade," that portion of a school program that represents the work of one regular school term, identified by a designation such as kindergarten, grade one, or grade ten;

(23) "Graduate," an individual who has received formal recognition for the successful completion of a prescribed program of studies;

(24) "Health integration," the process of incorporating standards relative to maintaining and improving health, preventing disease, and avoiding or reducing health-related risk behaviors into the required units of credit described in § 24:43:11:02 as appropriate to the course;

(25) "In-service education or training," a program of systematized activities approved by the school system that contributes to the professional or occupational growth and competence of staff members during the time of their service to the school system;

(26) "Junior high school," a school consisting of a combination of two or more consecutive grades that must include grades seven and eight and may include grade nine;

(27) "Laboratory class," a course providing opportunities for students to interact directly with the material world, or with data drawn from the material world, using tools that are not found in a library, media center, study hall, or classroom, and in which students use safe and appropriate laboratory techniques, as well as implement data collection techniques, models, and theories of science;

(28) "Mathematics courses," instruction in general mathematics, algebra, geometry, consumer mathematics, probability and statistics, calculus, trigonometry, and similar courses in advanced topics;

(29) "Middle school," a school consisting of any combination of two or more consecutive grades, five through eight;

(30) "Norming period," the period of time during which tests were standardized;

(31) "Original entry," the initial enrollment of a pupil for any school term at any public or nonpublic elementary or secondary school in this state;

(32) "Personal learning plan," a plan based on a student's skills and interests that identifies the specific coursework a student needs to reach the student's academic and career goals;

(33) "Plan of Intent," a written document stating how a school district intends to ensure that all teachers and administrators are serving on valid certificates in their certified areas;

(34) "Program director," "coordinator," or "supervisor," a person who serves as the identified head of an organized educational program or administrative unit within a school system or other educational entity;

(35) "Pupil" or "student," an individual for whom instruction is provided in an educational program under the jurisdiction of a school or school system;

(36) "Pupil, full-time," a pupil who is carrying a full course load as determined by the local school system;

(37) "Pupil, high school," anyone, regardless of age, who is enrolled in grades nine through twelve and who has not graduated from high school. The term includes any person who was 14 years of age before the date established by SDCL 13-28-2 who is enrolled in a nongraded or unclassified school program and who has not graduated from high school;

(38) "School," a public or nonpublic organization or entity which is approved or accredited by the secretary for the purpose of instructing children of compulsory school age as provided in SDCL 13-27-1 or for children attending school as provided in SDCL 13-13-1, or both;

(39) "School, elementary," a school consisting of any combination of grades from kindergarten through eighth grade;

(40) "School, nonpublic," a school operated by an organization other than a school district;

(41) "School, public," a school operated by a school district;

(42) "School, secondary," a school consisting of any combination of three or more consecutive grades, including ninth grade through twelfth grade;

(43) "School system," all of the schools and supporting services operated by a governmental agency or by any private organization;

(44) "Science courses," instruction in physical, earth-space, and biological sciences;

(45) "Secretary," the secretary of the Department of Education;

(46) "Service learning," service learning is a meaningful and relevant activity that addresses needs important to the community being served. Students explore the context of societal issues relevant to the service;

(47) "Social studies courses," instruction in history, government, geography, anthropology, psychology, sociology, and economics;

(48) "Staff member," a person in a school system who meets all of the following criteria:

(49) "State board," the South Dakota Board of Education Standards;

(50) "State education agency," the Division of Education Services and Support, created by SDCL 1-45-4;

(51) "Teacher, certified," the holder of a valid South Dakota teacher certificate who is assigned to those responsibilities authorized by the certificate;

(52) "Teacher, full-time," a staff member who is employed to teach for a minimum school day for the entire regular school term;

(53) "Unit of credit," the demonstration of student learning for course work. A unit of credit may be granted verifying competency of content through an end-of-course exam, alternative assessments demonstrating content knowledge, or 146 hours of class time. Fractional units of credit may be granted based upon proportionate time spent in class; and

(54) "World Languages," the study of languages other than English which may include Native American and American Sign languages.