Does South Dakota require autism training for school staff? What South Dakota law asks, and where outside training fits
The short answer
In the South Dakota education statutes and Board of Education rules we searched, we found no requirement for school staff to complete autism training. A special education rule requires each school district to describe, in the staff development part of its comprehensive plan, the training to be provided to paraprofessionals who assist with special education and related services. Teachers, administrators and education specialists renew their five-year certificates through one of three routes, one of which is six education-related credits; fifteen continuing education contact hours count as one renewal credit.
What we found
On October 29, 2026, we read chapters 13-1, 13-10, 13-13, 13-32, 13-33, 13-37, 13-42 and 13-43 of the South Dakota Codified Laws, and the Administrative Rules of South Dakota on special education personnel development (chapter 24:05:16) and certification renewal (chapter 24:28:17), on the South Dakota Legislature's site. We searched them for autism, positive behavior, challenging behavior, behavior intervention, de-escalation, restraint, seclusion, paraprofessionals and training. Autism appears in the special education chapter as a definition and a funding level, not in any staff training duty.
South Dakota's restraint and seclusion law, SDCL 13-32-20, requires each school board to "adopt or revise a school district policy for school district employees on the use of restraint and seclusion." The policy must include a procedure for notifying a student's parent or guardian of an incident requiring restraint or seclusion, unless the student is emancipated. It must prohibit prone restraint except when its use is necessary and reasonable in manner and moderate in degree, and prohibit involuntary confinement of a student locked alone in a room unless there is a clear and present danger. The statute does not mention staff training.
Related training rules for South Dakota school staff
Special education paraprofessionals (ARSD 24:05:16:16.01). Paraprofessionals and assistants who are appropriately trained and supervised under this rule may assist in providing special education and related services to children with disabilities under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. At a minimum, paraprofessionals must have a high school diploma or GED, work within district-defined roles and responsibilities, and work under the supervision of, and be evaluated by, certified staff. Each school district must describe the training to be provided to paraprofessionals in the staff development component of its comprehensive plan. The rule does not set topics or hours.
Staff development for special education (ARSD 24:05:16:05). The staff development section of each district's comprehensive plan must show that all personnel needed to carry out Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act are appropriately and adequately prepared, and each district must take measurable steps to recruit, hire, train and retain qualified personnel to provide special education and related services.
Certificate renewal (ARSD 24:28:17). A teacher, administrator or education specialist certificate is valid for five years. Within the five-year certificate validity period, the applicant must complete national board certification or recertification, participate as a mentee or mentor in a state-approved mentor program for at least two years, or complete six education-related credits, three of which must be transcripted. Fifteen continuing education contact hours count as one renewal credit. "Education-related" means content that pertains to an endorsement area, pedagogy, classroom management, technology in education, student assessment or differentiated instruction. These rules name no autism or students-with-disabilities content.
Source: SDCL 13-32-20; ARSD 24:05:16:16.01; ARSD 24:05:16:05; ARSD 24:28:17:12; ARSD 24:28:17:05; ARSD 24:28:17:06; ARSD 24:28:17:07.
Where outside training fits
The paraprofessional rule leaves the training to each district's comprehensive plan and names no provider. For certificate renewal, ARSD 24:28:17:05 says continuing education training or in-service may only be provided by school districts, department-accredited schools, educational service agencies, education-related organizations, health care organizations or public safety organizations. We do not claim that our course meets any South Dakota requirement, counts toward a district's paraprofessional training, or earns continuing education contact hours or renewal credit. Before buying outside training for any of these purposes, ask your district or the South Dakota Department of Education how it evaluates outside courses.
What our Intro to ABA Level 1 course covers
The Intro to ABA Level 1 course teaches methods and techniques of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for parents and caregivers, teachers, paraprofessionals and behavior technicians who work with a child every day. Topics include what autism is, what ABA is, pairing, errorless teaching and prompting, and active student responding. Complete the course and pass its 40-question final exam with a score of at least 80%. Completing this course earns a Special Learning certificate of completion. That certificate is not a continuing education (CE) certificate. It is basic training in ABA methods for daily practice, not a professional credential. We do not claim South Dakota state approval or continuing education credit for this course.
A paraprofessional who took it wrote: "I want to learn everything I can to help my student succeed in the public school system. I found Special Learning's ABA level 1 course so fascinating and inspiring."
Two ways to start
- For one person: try the first two sessions free for 7 days; account creation is required, with no payment information requested. The full course costs $199, paid once, with no subscription or recurring charge. Activate your license code within 90 days of purchase; the published completion window is 10 weeks after activation. You may request a later start date, no later than three months after purchase. Start the free sessions
- For your district's staff: tell us how many people need training and when, and we will send a quote; each participant who completes the course and passes its 40-question final exam with a score of at least 80% earns an individual certificate of completion. Ask for a school quote
Last reviewed: October 29, 2026.