Education

The secretary of the department of education and cultural affairs, appointed by the governor, heads the public school system. Members of the state board of education are appointed by the governor for four-year terms. Many Indian children attend public schools; others attend schools operated by the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs. School attendance is compulsory for children from 6 to 16 years of age.

The first school in South Dakota was opened in Fort Randall in 1857. The territorial legislature established a public school system in 1862 and appointed the first superintendent of public instruction in 1864. A compulsory attendance law was enacted in 1883.

South Dakota State University was established at Brookings in 1881 as the Agricultural College of South Dakota and opened in 1884. The name was changed to South Dakota State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts in 1907. The college was reorganized as a university and the present name was adopted in 1964. The University of South Dakota was established at Vermillion in 1862 as the University of Dakota and opened in 1882. Its present name was adopted in 1891.