An Act to amend the programs reimbursing a teacher or school counselor for earning national board certification.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of South Dakota:

Section 1. That § 13-1-54 be AMENDED:

13-1-54. The Department of Education may establish a program to reimburse public school counselors for the fees associated with the application and examination process necessary to earn the credential of National Certified School Counselor from the National Board for Counselor Certification. The program may not accept any new people into the program after July 1, 2025. The reimbursement shall include any federal funds that may be available through a candidate subsidy program. The reimbursement shall be paid upon receipt of documentation that the public school counselor successfully completed all of the certification requirements which took effect on January 1, 2004, and was awarded the credential.

In addition to the reimbursement provided in this section, a counselor who is employed by a school district and who has earned the credential of National Certified School Counselor from the National Board for Counselor Certification may receive a payment of two thousand dollars per year. The stipend shall be paid as follows:

(1) One thousand dollars from the Department of Education; and

(2) One thousand dollars from the school district that employs the counselor.

The department is not required to pay a teacher a stipend pursuant to this section unless the school district employing the counselor opts to pay a stipend.

Section 2. That § 13-42-26 be AMENDED:

13-42-26. The Department of Education shall establish a program to reimburse public school teachers for the application and processing fee for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification process. The program may not accept any new people into the program after July 1, 2025. The reimbursement shall include any federal funds that may be available through a candidate subsidy program. The reimbursement shall be paid upon receipt of documentation that the teacher successfully completed all certification requirements and was awarded the credential.

In addition to the reimbursement provided pursuant to this section, a teacher who teaches in a public school and who has obtained certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards shall receive a payment of two thousand dollars per year for five years. The stipend shall be paid as follows:

(1) One thousand dollars from the Department of Education;

(2) One thousand dollars from the school district where the teacher is employed.

Once the first five years is complete, the school district that employs the teacher may opt to continue payments during the period of the next five years. If, during that period, the school district pays the teacher a stipend, the Department of Education shall also pay the teacher a stipend equal to the amount offered by the school district, up to a maximum of one thousand dollars. However, the department is not required to pay a teacher a stipend pursuant to this section during years six to ten unless the school district employing the teacher opts to pay a stipend.

The Board of Education Standards shall adopt rules, pursuant to chapter 1-26, to establish guidelines necessary to implement the program.