This bill amends the existing laws regarding how school districts in South Dakota determine their enrollment figures for the purpose of calculating state aid to general education. Key changes include the addition of "spring enrollment" as a factor in determining a district's annual enrollment, which is defined as the greater of the fall or spring enrollment figures. The bill specifies that both fall and spring enrollment must be reported and are subject to examination by the Department of Education. Additionally, the definitions of "fall enrollment" and "annual enrollment" have been revised to clarify the calculation process, including the treatment of nonresident students and those receiving education under specific provisions.

Furthermore, the bill updates various terms and calculations related to funding, such as the "target teacher ratio factor," "target teacher salary," and "local need." It establishes new definitions and modifies existing ones to reflect the changes in enrollment calculations. For instance, the target teacher ratio factor is now based on annual enrollment rather than just fall enrollment, and the target teacher salary is set to increase annually based on the consumer price index. Overall, these amendments aim to provide a more accurate and comprehensive framework for determining school funding based on student enrollment.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/28/2026: 13-13-1.2, 13-13-10.1