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State profile · SD

South Dakota

Reviewed policies, grades and school implementation dates. District examples cover 0 distinct districts; it is not a statewide implementation survey.

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Detailed device brief

Personal phones & devices

SB 198 failed its final House vote on March 5, 2026. That proposal does not establish a current statewide restriction; a complete search for other authority remains open.

Elementary
Unresolved
Middle
Unresolved
High
Unresolved

Final House vote on amended SB 198: 28–39, March 5, 2026.

Exact scope, exceptions & source

Instructional-tech limits in force

No reviewed finding in this section. This is a coverage gap, not confirmation that no requirement exists.

What students are expected to learn

Statewide · Current

South Dakota K–8 Computer Science Standards

Adopted K–8 CS standards include AI concepts and age-appropriate understanding of machine learning, data and AI’s social effects. Districts decide how teachers and programs integrate the standards. This document does not establish a standalone AI course for every child.

Grades / students
K-8
Learning requirement
Published standards
Passed / adopted
2025-04-14
Legal start
See implementation details
School implementation
Adopted April 14, 2025; grade-banded K–8 content with local integration decisions.
Bill or policy, exceptions and evidence · Official source

Adopted: starting later or timing unresolved

No reviewed finding in this section. This is a coverage gap, not confirmation that no requirement exists.

What could change next?

Federal · Introduction announced

UNPLUGGED Schools Grant Act of 2026

Would fund state policies restricting student possession or use of personal electronic devices during school hours. Eligible policies would cover public elementary and secondary schools, include health and disability exceptions, and be developed with district and community input. School-authorized instructional laptops and tablets meeting specified safeguards are excluded.

Latest step: 2026-10-01 · Sponsors announced introduction; posted text has no bill number or committee assignment.

Next: Confirm the numbered Congressional record and committee action. No hearing or vote date is verified.

No date verified. Passage timing is not established unless the source supplies an expectation.

Official status / agenda
Open policy watch for this state

Districts in this state

State rules are only part of the picture. Open a district for local restrictions, documented learning and research gaps.

No district from this state is in the current research panel.

For your next curriculum or board conversation

Turn the South Dakota evidence into a local plan.

Planning questions—not additional legal requirements or a judgment about your district.

  1. Separate the decisions. Identify personal-device rules, instructional screen/device limits and student AI conditions. Check exceptions before changing classroom practice.
  2. Name the learning. Find where students encounter algorithms, data, computing systems and critical evaluation of AI. Distinguish required instruction from an available elective or a published standard.
  3. Make delivery concrete. Identify the grades, responsible teachers, curriculum time and professional learning. A policy document does not establish that lessons have happened.
  4. Check the next date. Separate current duties, adopted future starts and proposals. Use the original source and local board policy before acting.
  5. Listen locally. National surveys are conversation starters. Ask students, families and educators about your own context, and review evidence of learning as well as compliance.
More detail: personal devices, learning by age and teacher support

Rules for use: affected grades and timing

Personal devices · statewide finding

Elementary
Unresolved
Middle
Unresolved
High
Unresolved

SB 198 failed its final House vote on March 5, 2026. That proposal does not establish a current statewide restriction; a complete search for other authority remains open.

Final House vote on amended SB 198: 28–39, March 5, 2026.

Exceptions & source ↗

School devices, screen time and student AI

No reviewed policy is available here for these topics yet. Further research appears in the policy explorer.

Learning & relevant rules for use

What changes by age?

Compare this state

Elementary

Computer science

Current · Published standards

Adopted K–8 CS standards include AI concepts and age-appropriate understanding of machine learning, data and AI’s social effects. Districts decide how teachers and programs integrate the standards. This document does not establish a standalone AI course for every child.

Adopted April 14, 2025; grade-banded K–8 content with local integration decisions.

Source & dates

AI literacy

Current · Published standards

Adopted K–8 CS standards include AI concepts and age-appropriate understanding of machine learning, data and AI’s social effects. Districts decide how teachers and programs integrate the standards. This document does not establish a standalone AI course for every child.

Adopted April 14, 2025; grade-banded K–8 content with local integration decisions.

Source & dates

Relevant rules for use

Personal devices: Unresolved

Final House vote on amended SB 198: 28–39, March 5, 2026.

Device scope, exceptions & source

Middle

Computer science

Current · Published standards

Adopted K–8 CS standards include AI concepts and age-appropriate understanding of machine learning, data and AI’s social effects. Districts decide how teachers and programs integrate the standards. This document does not establish a standalone AI course for every child.

Adopted April 14, 2025; grade-banded K–8 content with local integration decisions.

Source & dates

AI literacy

Current · Published standards

Adopted K–8 CS standards include AI concepts and age-appropriate understanding of machine learning, data and AI’s social effects. Districts decide how teachers and programs integrate the standards. This document does not establish a standalone AI course for every child.

Adopted April 14, 2025; grade-banded K–8 content with local integration decisions.

Source & dates

Relevant rules for use

Personal devices: Unresolved

Final House vote on amended SB 198: 28–39, March 5, 2026.

Device scope, exceptions & source

Teacher capacity, funding & delivery

No reviewed support program is listed here yet. Individual policy details include any documented funding or training provision.

Questions for a district curriculum meeting
  1. Which students receive instruction, in which grades and subjects, and for how much time?
  2. What sequence connects computing concepts, data, AI understanding and digital judgment?
  3. Who teaches it, and what training, preparation time and accessible materials do they receive?
  4. Which documented funding or services can support delivery, and what remains a local budget decision?
  5. What student work demonstrates understanding? Check who participates and who is missing.

These are Stewart Brown’s planning questions, not additional legal requirements.

Reviewed policy findings, district examples & history (2 records)

Restrictions

Evidence gap

No current statewide record indexed. Research remains open.

Governance

Evidence gap

No current statewide record indexed. Research remains open.

Learning

Current evidence indexed

1 action in this collection

Current statewide policies

South Dakota· State / DCCurrent

South Dakota K–8 Computer Science Standards

Adopted K–8 CS standards include AI concepts and age-appropriate understanding of machine learning, data and AI’s social effects. Districts decide how teachers and programs integrate the standards. This document does not establish a standalone AI course for every child.

Reviewed against primary evidence · Oct 5, 2026

Computer scienceAI literacy
Requirement
Optional / local discretion
Grades
K-8
Learning evidence
Published standards
Adopted / approved
Apr 14, 2025
School implementation
Adopted April 14, 2025; grade-banded K–8 content with local integration decisions.

Upcoming requirements

No records in this section have been published. This is an evidence gap in the collection, not a determination that no relevant action exists.

Proposals under consideration

No records in this section have been published. This is an evidence gap in the collection, not a determination that no relevant action exists.

Selected district examples

No records in this section have been published. This is an evidence gap in the collection, not a determination that no relevant action exists.

Historical records

South Dakota· State / DCArchived

SB 198 (2026)

Proposed school-day cell-phone restrictions. After Senate passage and House amendments, the bill failed House passage on March 5, 2026, by 28–39.

Reviewed against primary evidence · Oct 5, 2026

Personal devices
Requirement
Proposed / pending
Grades
All K-12
Learning evidence
No instruction requirement established by this record
School implementation
Failed House passage March 5, 2026, 28–39; no statewide duty created.
Evidence coverage & remaining research

Consistent 16-dimension checklist

Coverage & remaining research

Current source-linked inventory; review dates appear on each record. 3/16 dimensions have published evidence of any status. Every dimension remains open to additional sources and superseding actions.

DimensionCurrent statewide evidenceOther published evidence
Personal devices1 linked action0 current district actions · 0 future, proposed, or historical
School-issued devicesNot yet establishedResearch gap · no absence conclusion
Screen timeNot yet establishedResearch gap · no absence conclusion
Student AINot yet establishedResearch gap · no absence conclusion
Staff AINot yet establishedResearch gap · no absence conclusion
AI governanceNot yet establishedResearch gap · no absence conclusion
Social media / networkNot yet establishedResearch gap · no absence conclusion
Privacy / cybersecurityNot yet establishedResearch gap · no absence conclusion
AI literacy1 linked action0 current district actions · 0 future, proposed, or historical
Computer science1 linked action0 current district actions · 0 future, proposed, or historical
Digital literacyNot yet establishedResearch gap · no absence conclusion
Media literacyNot yet establishedResearch gap · no absence conclusion
Digital citizenshipNot yet establishedResearch gap · no absence conclusion
Cybersecurity literacyNot yet establishedResearch gap · no absence conclusion
Data literacyNot yet establishedResearch gap · no absence conclusion
Social-media literacyNot yet establishedResearch gap · no absence conclusion

Next checks: official state statutes and agency updates, grade-specific learning standards, superseding rules, and a broader district sample. Contribute a primary source.