South Dakota Highly Qualified Status (Special Education)
Visit the Office of Teacher Quality for more information on becoming highly qualified in South Dakota.
Most tests are offered in both Session 1 and Session 2. Refer to the fees page for tests that are restricted to a particular session.
In general, unless it is specifically stated that a calculator is permitted or required for a particular test, calculators may not be used on any Praxis tests (see Calculator Use).
Notes:
- In general, test codes that begin with "5" are delivered in computer format; codes that begin with "0" are delivered on paper.
- "CDT" refers to computer-delivered tests. "PDT" refers to paper-delivered tests.
| To Be Highly Qualified in | You Need to Take | CDT Code | PDT Code | Qualifying Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary K–8 | Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (Calculator allowed.) | 5014 | 0014 | 140 |
| or | ||||
| Middle School: Content Knowledge (Calculator allowed.) | 5146 | 0146 | 141 | |
| Test 0146/5146 may be taken if the Special Education teacher is providing services for students in an elementary and/or middle school attendance center. | ||||
| General Science 7–12 (for Special Education) | General Science: Content Knowledge2 | 5435 | 0435 | 143 |
| The General Science: Content Knowledge test will meet the requirements for attaining highly qualified status for those Special Education teachers who provide direct instruction for students in middle and high school. | ||||
| Middle School 5–8 | Middle School: Content Knowledge1 (Calculator allowed.) | 5146 | 0146 | 141 |
| or select the appropriate content test: | ||||
| Middle School English Language Arts | 5049 | 0049 | 150 | |
| Middle School Mathematics (Calculator allowed.) | n/a | 0069 | 140 | |
| Middle School Science | n/a | 0439 | 138 | |
| Middle School Social Studies | 5089 | 0089 | 145 | |
| The Middle School: Content Knowledge test may be taken if the Special Education teacher is providing services at both the elementary and middle school level. These tests will not add any additional endorsements on a certificate. | ||||
| High School 9–12 English | English Language, Literature, and Composition: Content Knowledge3 | 5041 | 0041 | 154 |
| and | ||||
| Speech Communication: Content Knowledge | n/a | 0221 | 143 | |
| High School 9–12 Mathematics | Mathematics: Content Knowledge4 (Graphing calculator required.) | 5061 | 0061 | 124 |
| Social Science Education: Composite 7–12 (for Special Education) | Social Studies: Content Knowledge2 | 5081 | 0081 | 146 |
| The Social Studies: Content Knowledge test will meet the requirements for attaining highly qualified status for those Special Education teachers who provide direct instruction for students in middle and high school. | ||||
| All Grades and World Languages | (See test requirements.) | |||
n/a — Not available in this delivery method.
1 Teachers will acquire highly qualified status in special education only — no endorsement added. The Department of Education will no longer use the Middle School: Content Knowledge Praxis II® (0146/5146) content test to determine highly qualified status at the high school level.
2 The Department of Education will no longer be awarding the "group endorsement package" for regular education candidates based on the generalist test. Those candidates graduating within a special education preparation can still use the generalist tests in these areas to prove content competency when they have to provide the direct instruction, although the endorsements will not be added to their certificates upon passage of the exam.
3 The 0041/5041 test will also allow secondary level teachers to teach Language Arts at the middle school level without taking the 0049/5049 Middle School Language Arts test.
4 The 0061/5061 test will also allow secondary teachers to teach math at the middle school level without needing to take the 0069 Middle School Mathematics test.
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See test centers, dates and deadlines for Praxis computer-delivered and paper-delivered tests.
