Senate committee phases out state incentives for National Board Certification but keeps payments to current participants

The Senate Appropriations Committee voted unanimously to advance an amended version of House Bill 1039 that phases out state incentives for National Board Certification for future participants while preserving payments already promised to current participants.

Joseph Graves, secretary of education, told the committee the Department of Education recommended ending the state incentives because participation rates have been low and the program was not generating broad uptake. “The program is not having the kind of impact originally envisioned,” Graves said, noting low participation among South Dakota educators relative to the total certified workforce.

Senator Al Nordstrom said he supported the amended approach because it preserves the state’s obligation to educators who already completed work or are mid‑process while preventing new enrollments. Nordstrom said he added a one‑sentence amendment that barred new enrollments after July 1 but maintained payments to those already in the system so the state would honor prior commitments.

Supporters including the South Dakota Education Association and several nationally board certified teachers testified for the amended bill. Sandra Waltman of the teachers' association said the organization had moved from opposition to support after the amendment. Teacher witnesses described the certification as a rigorous, multi‑component process that requires substantial time and personal investment; one teacher said certification led to new leadership roles and in‑state mentoring opportunities.

Committee members pressed department staff on fiscal impacts and participation. The Department of Education provided figures indicating about 22 teachers and 16 counselors currently participate in the state program and identified a FY 2026 first‑year savings estimate of roughly $84,000 under earlier proposals to end incentives immediately. Committee members noted that local districts can continue their own incentives and that several districts already include certification incentives in master agreements.

Senator Miss Gibbons moved the committee do‑pass recommendation; the motion passed by voice vote with roll call showing unanimous support. The amended bill will advance with language that prohibits new state incentive enrollments after the specified date while allowing the state to continue payments to those already eligible under current timelines.