Senate rejects bill to standardize Oceti Sakowin essential understandings across public schools

Senate Bill 196, which would have directed the South Dakota Board of Education to incorporate the Oceti Sakowin essential understandings into public-school standards and to consult the Indian Education Advisory Council and tribal education directors, failed on the floor following debate.

Senator Grove, sponsor of SB196, described the bill as an effort to make instruction about tribal history and culture consistent statewide. Grove presented survey results she said showed growing educator interest and cited coordination efforts between the Department of Education, Department of Tribal Relations and tribal education directors. "Why should a student's access to history depend upon their zip code?" Grove asked.

Opponents argued the content is already integrated into social studies standards and that the Department of Education lacks the teacher capacity to treat the Oceti standards as a separate mandated program. Senator Carly read Department of Education comments into the record saying the state requires instruction in four mandated areas (reading, mathematics, science and social studies) and that the department had already integrated many Oceti standards into social studies. "Passing this bill would be a big mistake," Carly said, quoting the Department of Education secretary's written concerns about implementation and accreditation impacts.

Supporters said the amended bill provides a consultative process and tools to standardize material teachers want to use; several senators argued it could improve outcomes for Native students by reflecting their cultures in instruction.

The Senate rejected the bill 7 yeas to 28 nays. The transcript shows proponents urged collaborative, incremental standardization through the Board's existing revision process; opponents said the content already exists in social studies standards and that mandating additional requirements could create accreditation and staffing issues.