South Dakota

The state of South Dakota, under the leadership of Governor Kristi Noem, has comprehensively fought back against CRT in K-12 and higher education. Noem has spearheaded efforts to reject federal grants that require CRT in history and social studies lessons, directed the Board of Regents for the university system to review any CRT requirements, and repeatedly made public statements that South Dakota should reject this philosophy in all its schools.

In March 2022, HB 1012 was signed into law by Gov. Kristi Noem. The law targets “divisive concepts” related to DEI and Critical Race Theory by prohibiting mandatory training or orientation about these concepts; however, it does not restrict professors from teaching these subjects. South Dakota was the first state to pass a law limiting DEI in higher education. 

Higher Education

In July 2021, “Noem … requested a review of policies from the South Dakota Board of Regents to ‘ensure the state’s higher education system remains focused on honest, patriotic education,’ according to a news release from the state.” (source)

“Republican South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem pushed the state’s Board of Regents to block critical race theory and other Biden administration education curricula from state universities.” (source) In 2022, Noem signed HB 1012 restricting divisive concepts from being promoted and mandated in higher education. 

K-12 Education

Gov. Noem was the first signatory on the ‘1776 Pledge To Save Our Schools’ to restore ‘patriotic education’.

Education policy analyst Stanley Kurtz heaped praise on Noem for signing the 1776 Action pledge, saying the model of candidates and officeholders being held to their pledges, much like the Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) pledge not to raise taxes, could be a model for more positive action from politicians to resist the scourge of CRT in education. It’s not enough to say you oppose it, Kurtz writes, something must be done to stop it. (source)

In July 2021, Noem signed an executive order banning the South Dakota Department of Education from applying for grants from the federal Department of Education that would infuse local schools with CRT in history and social studies lessons. (source)

However, the state’s cyclical review of social studies standards for K-12 education in the state was scrapped after controversy and will start over beginning in November 2021. Noem still faces an uphill battle to rid the Department of Education of those who actively promote CRT. Kurtz put out a warning about Noem’s reliance upon education bureaucrats. (source)

Officials the Department of Education also voiced their opposition to CRT.

When the NEA voted in favor of promoting CRT in K-12 education at their 2021 summer meeting, the SDEA voted not to take a stance. (Source)