Background Information

In accordance with state law (SDCL § 13-55-23 through § 13-55-28), certain teachers and vocational instructors are eligible to participate in a reduced tuition program.  Established criteria include the following: 

• Current teacher certification granted by the South Dakota State Department of Education
• Present employment as a K-12 teacher or vocational instructor (validated by a signed teaching contract) within the state of South Dakota
• Continued employment or teaching certification contingent upon completion of collegiate course work
• South Dakota residency
• GPA (grade point average) of 3.0 or higher for any/all courses completed through this particular tuition program
  

For those individuals who establish eligibility, assessed tuition rate will be reduced by 50%. See relevant notes below:

• The maximal number of credit hours per academic year (fall, spring, summer) for this particular program is equal to six.
• This reduction in assessment of cost applies only to tuition, not to fees.
• The program allows for completion of either undergraduate or graduate course work.
• For state-support courses (typically those courses taught face-to-face on a main campus), approved participants will be assessed 50% of tuition plus 100% of required fees. 
• For self-support courses (commonly those courses that involve distance learning or face-to-face instruction at a learning center or off-campus location), approved participants will receive a reduction that is equal to 50% of state resident rate.

Application Process

The application includes an introductory memo from Dr. Jay Perry, System Vice President for Academic Affairs for the South Dakota Board of Regents, and a form.

1. Print a hard copy of the document.
2. Complete the form as directed and then obtain official verification from your school superintendent or designee.
3. Prior to course registration, submit the signed form to the Registrar’s Office at your regental university of choice.

Note: Approval is conferred only for the current term. Consequently, the application process must be completed every semester of participation.

For questions pertaining to the application process, please contact the School of Education at your chosen university:

Black Hills State University - Spearfish
https://www.bhsu.edu/Academics/education

Dakota State University - Madison
http://dsu.edu/academics/colleges/college-of-education

Northern State University - Aberdeen
https://www.northern.edu/academics/school-education/education-degrees-departments

South Dakota State University - Brookings
http://catalog.sdstate.edu/preview_entity.php?catoid=20&ent_oid=1190&returnto=1535

The University of South Dakota - Vermillion
http://www.usd.edu/education