Under what circumstances may a South Dakota school district display the Ten Commandments?

South Dakota law provides the following regarding the display of the Ten Commandments on school district property:

Any object or document containing the Ten Commandments may be displayed in any public school classroom, public school building, or at any public school event, along with other objects and documents of cultural, legal, or historical significance that have formed and influenced the legal and governmental systems of the United States and the State of South Dakota. Such display of an object or document containing the words of the Ten Commandments:

Shall be in the same manner and appearance generally as other objects and documents displayed; and

May not be presented or displayed in any fashion that results in calling attention to it apart from the other displayed objects and documents.

About Swier School Law Counsel™

Swier School Law Counsel™ is a boutique education law department within Swier Law Firm.

We recognize the needs of South Dakota's school officials to obtain first-rate legal advice on a broad range of issues. Our attorneys provide creative, timely, and cost-efficient legal strategies that balance the needs of students, parents, employees, and citizens with the interests of keeping a school district on solid legal footing.

Swier School Law Counsel™ and its attorneys author The South Dakota School Law Deskbook™ and South Dakota School Law Notes™. The Group's attorneys also have years of experience teaching the popular "Education and the Law" class at the University of South Dakota School of Law.

Swier Law Firm has served as legal counsel for school districts throughout the state and for the School Administrators of South Dakota and its membership. SASD is an educational association comprised of over 800 school administrators (Superintendents, Business Managers, Principals, Special Education Directors, and Curriculum Directors) throughout South Dakota.

Brooke Swier Schloss [email protected]

Family Law and Estate Planning attorney helping families across South Dakota plan and protect their loved ones