Educator Toolkits

The South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship provides up to $7,500 to eligible South Dakota students attending participating public or private colleges, universities, and technical colleges in the state. Use the resources below to help students and families understand eligibility requirements and program details.

OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP RESOURCES

• Opportunity Scholarship Eligibility Changes – Class of 2027 and Beyond
• Opportunity Scholarship Webpage
• Opportunity Scholarship Flyer
• Opportunity Scholarship FAQs
• Opportunity Scholarship PowerPoint
• Approved High School & Dual Credit Curriculum
• Approved CTE for Core Content List
• SDBOR Opportunity Scholarship Knowledge Base

Build Dakota provides full-ride scholarships to students pursuing high-need programs at South Dakota’s technical colleges in exchange for a work commitment in South Dakota after graduation.

• Student Program Handout
• Industry Partner Handout
• Build Dakota Scholarship Toolkits

The Freedom Scholarship helps cover remaining tuition and mandatory fees for South Dakota students with demonstrated financial need after other grants and scholarships are applied.

Dakota Corps provides full tuition and eligible fees to students preparing for careers in South Dakota’s critical workforce shortage areas.

Application Deadline: December 15

• Dakota Corps Scholarship Flyer

Supports students pursuing teaching degrees who commit to teaching in a South Dakota critical-need subject area for five years after graduation.

Application Deadline: December 15

• Critical Teaching Needs Scholarship Flyer

The Jump Start Scholarship provides a $1,500 award to South Dakota students who graduate from high school in three years or less and enroll full-time at a participating South Dakota college, university, or technical college.

Application Deadline: August 31

Eligibility Requirements:

• Be a resident of South Dakota
• Be awarded a high school diploma by a public SD high school in three years or less
• Have attended a public SD high school full-time for at least two semesters before graduation
• Enroll full-time at a participating SD college within one year of graduation

Students who attend high school for any portion of a fourth year are not eligible.

Jump Start Scholarship Flyer

Supports students pursuing Elementary Education at South Dakota’s public universities.

Application Deadline: February 28

Eligibility Requirements:

• A minimum 3.0 cumulative high school GPA
• First-time entering freshman at BHSU, DSU, NSU, SDSU or USD
• Intent to major in Elementary Education (or combination of major/minor with Special Education/Elementary Education)

Annis Irene Fowler/Kaden Scholarship Flyer

The Ardell Bjugstad Scholarship supports Native American students pursuing degrees in agriculture, agricultural sciences, or natural resources.

Application Deadline: February 28

Eligibility Requirements:

• Enrolled member of a federally recognized Indian tribe whose reservation is located in South Dakota or North Dakota
• Resident of South Dakota or North Dakota
• Demonstrated academic achievement
• High school senior planning to earn a degree in agriculture or natural resources or a related field

Ardell Bjugstad Scholarship Flyer