South Dakota

Overall Policy Lever Score

2

Child care licensing minimally requires a director to have a CDA and 20 clock hours of annual training.  Elementary principals must have a bachelor’s degree and pre-K certification is available; however neither pre-K content nor experience are required. South Dakota does not have a director credential, QRIS, or state pre-K program. There are no early childhood leadership degree programs or leadership academies.

Policy Levers Rating

  1. 1 Administrator Qualifications in Child Care Licensing 3
  2. 2 Administrator Credential 0
  3. 3 Principal Licensure 5
  4. 4 Administrator Qualifications in QRIS 0
  5. 5 Administrator Qualifications in State Pre-K Programs 0

Interesting Facts: South Dakota

  • There are 80 child care
    directors and 516 family
    child care providers in
    South Dakota.

  • The average salary of
    child care directors is
    $55,530 as opposed
    to that of elementary
    principals of $72,783.

  • South Dakota lacks
    key components
    (administrator credential,
    statewide QRIS, and
    state pre-K program)
    for supporting a well qualified
    early childhood
    leadership workforce.

South Dakota Data TablesPolicy Lever Rubric