SD Board Approves Prenatal Video Options for Schools Under New Law
The state vetted three options for scientific accuracy, and districts must report which prenatal development video they use each year.
- On Monday, The South Dakota Board approved three prenatal development videos for schools, fulfilling a mandate signed by South Dakota Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden earlier this year.
- House Bill requires public schools to show students 'age-appropriate and research-based' videos that include high-definition ultrasound footage and imagery tracing prenatal development from fertilization through birth.
- The Baby Olivia video from Live Action, an anti-abortion group, requires pairing with a second video because it has drawn criticism from medical professionals and abortion-rights groups for misaligning with how doctors date pregnancies.
- State Education Secretary Joe Graves said the department vetted all three videos for scientific accuracy, including a 42-minute DVD titled The Biology from the Endowment available for up to $29.
- School districts must confirm annually they have met the requirement and report which video or videos they used, according to Shannon Malone, the department's director of learning and instruction.
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State Board Picks Fetus Propaganda to Shove Down Students’ Throats
This Session, the Legislature passed House Bill 1313 to require schools to subject children to anti-abortion propaganda about fetuses. HB 1313 forbade schools from giving kids information from any organization that “performs abortions, promotes abortion,” or has any connection with any abortion provider or advocate, meaning schools can’t get their information from hospitals or most medical professionals. And they absolutely cannot offer their st…
State board approves options for prenatal videos in schools, including one from anti-abortion group - Stateline Publications
Members of the South Dakota Board of Education Standards meet on May 4, 2026, at the DoubleTree convention center in Rapid City. From left are board members Linda Olsen and Tonia Warzecha, state Education Secretary Joe Graves, and board members Steven Perkins, Greg Von Wald, Phyllis Heineman and Rich Meyer. (Photo by Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight)South Dakota schools will have multiple options for new state-required prenatal development v…
State board approves options for prenatal videos in schools, including one from anti-abortion group - The Mexico Ledger
Members of the South Dakota Board of Education Standards meet on May 4, 2026, at the DoubleTree convention center in Rapid City. From left are board members Linda Olsen and Tonia Warzecha, state Education Secretary Joe Graves, and board members Steven Perkins, Greg Von Wald, Phyllis Heineman and Rich Meyer. (Photo by Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight)South Dakota schools will have multiple options for new state-required prenatal development v…
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