Schools have never been more reliant on the internet than they are today. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 forced South Dakota schools to incorporate distance learning and other internet-based teaching modules into their everyday curriculum. Though the internet brings numerous benefits to school staff and students, it also comes at a cost. That cost is student safety. South Dakota students are not immune to the threats the cyber world can pose. South Dakota minors have been victimized by on-line sexual predators, as well as other cyber-criminals who utilize the internet to extort students for sexually explicit images and other criminal enterprises. Reports of cyberbullying have also increased in recent years. Incidents of cyberbullying can lead to decreased academic achievement, anxiety, depression, and even suicide.

Internet Safety for Students and Parents Presentations

The South Dakota School Safety Center provides training for school staff, students, and parents. Call the School Safety Center at 605-773-3450, or email South Dakota School Safety Program Director Brett Garland at brett.garland@state.sd.us for more information or to arrange for a presentation.