South Dakota Directs Education Secretary to Seek Approval for New Student Testing System

Original title: require that the secretary of the Department of Education apply to the United States Department of Education for the authority to develop and implement an innovative assessment system.

Last action · January 28, 2026: Withdrawn at the Request of the Prime SponsorSponsors: Lana Greenfield and 16 others

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What This Bill Proposed

House Bill 1152 requires the secretary of the South Dakota Department of Education to apply to the federal government for authority to create a new student assessment system. If approved, the state would develop a testing model measuring reading and mathematics growth in consultation with educators and parents.

Why it matters

Changes the directive for state education officials by mandating pursuit of federal authorization to replace or alter standard student evaluations with an innovative testing model.

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Department of Education

The agency secretary is mandated to file a federal application and develop an innovative assessment model upon approval.

Directly affected

School administrators, teachers, parents, and education experts

These groups are designated to be consulted by the secretary to help develop and implement the new assessment model upon federal approval.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is required to apply for the federal assessment authority?

The secretary of the South Dakota Department of Education is required to submit the application to the U.S. Department of Education.

Who must be consulted if the federal application is approved?

The secretary must consult with school administrators, teachers, parents, and other education experts to develop and implement the assessment model.

What core academic areas must the new assessment measure?

The assessment must accurately measure student growth in reading and mathematics.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Withdrawn.

Procedural history

2 actions

Jan 28, 2026House
Withdrawn at the Request of the Prime Sponsor
Jan 27, 2026HouseIntroduced
First read in House and referred to

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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