Short answer
How do Brandon Valley teachers move to a higher salary lane?
A Brandon Valley teacher must show credit at the graduate level from an accredited university, then file a written request with a transcript at the Superintendent's Office on or before September 1. A teacher whose transcript arrives by January 1 can ask for a half-year lane change instead.
Source: Brandon Valley 2026-27 agreement, Section VIII C, Brandon Valley School District 49-2. Checked .
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How is the Brandon Valley teacher salary schedule organized?
The agreement between the school board and the Brandon Valley Education Association runs from August 14, 2023 until August 8, 2027, and the copy the district posts for 2026-27 was signed on April 13, 2026. Its Appendix A is a teacher "hiring schedule" with five lanes:
- BA
- BA+15
- MA
- MA+15
- MA+30
The hiring schedule sets where a new teacher starts. Under Section VIII B, experience in another school system counts toward the starting step up to a maximum of ten years, and a year counts when the teacher worked at least 120 days, or at least 60 days in each of two semesters. Section VIII C sets the value of a lane change as a fixed amount, with a half-year change worth half of it; teachers in their first year at Brandon Valley "will move lanes according to the hiring schedule for that year, if their lane advancement takes place on or before the 1st of September." Pay figures are in the agreement. Our guide to reading a salary schedule explains lanes and steps.
Which units count toward a Brandon Valley lane change?
Section VIII C.1 of the agreement sets one test. A teacher "applying for a lane advancement on the hiring schedule, for example BA to the BA+15 lane, must show evidence that the teacher has obtained credit at the graduate level from an accredited University."
The agreement does not limit the subject of the credit, require that it lead to a degree, or name particular universities. Under C.4, every teacher must keep a transcript of credits on file at the district office, along with a copy of credentials and the teaching certificate. Our article on graduate-level course types explains how these courses appear on a transcript.
Does Brandon Valley require approval before you take a course?
The agreement sets no pre-approval step. Approval happens when the request is filed: a teacher who may qualify "shall file a written request; including transcript and such proof as may reasonably be required, with the Superintendent's Office." The change "shall be made on the basis of the request," but the district may recover the money, including by withholding it from paychecks, "if the transcript and other proof does not confirm the teacher's qualification for the lane advancement." Our article on pre-approval forms covers what to keep in case a request is questioned.
When are the Brandon Valley lane change deadlines?
Section VIII C.2 of the agreement sets two dates:
- September 1: the written request with transcript is due at the Superintendent's Office "on or before the 1st of September" for a full-year lane change.
- January 1: a teacher may request a half-year lane change if the transcript and other proof reach the Superintendent "on or before the 1st of January." The half-year amount is "paid equally in the employee's remaining paychecks for that school year."
The dates turn on when the transcript arrives, so leave time for the university to post the grade. Our transcript deadlines article has tips.
Do the same units count toward South Dakota certificate renewal?
Section VIII C.3 of the agreement says district requirements "will be the same as the state requirements for renewal of certificates or licenses." Under chapter 24:28:17 of the Administrative Rules of South Dakota, a five-year certificate renews with six education-related credits, three of them transcripted, or with National Board certification or two years in a state-approved mentor program. A graduate-level course that is education-related can serve both purposes, but contact hours and undergraduate credit count only for renewal. The South Dakota renewal section has the full rules, and the South Dakota state guide sets Brandon Valley beside Sioux Falls.
Where can Brandon Valley teachers earn graduate-level units?
Every district, Brandon Valley included, decides for itself whether a course counts for the purpose a teacher needs it for: a column move, a stipend, license renewal or an added endorsement. No provider, university or website can make that decision, so the rules above come first, and written approval from Brandon Valley's human resources office is the safest record to have before you pay.
| Question | What Brandon Valley says | What to look for on the provider's site |
|---|---|---|
| Type of unit | Brandon Valley: Graduate-level credit from an accredited university | Semester or quarter units, graduate-level or not, and the university named on the transcript and its accreditor |
| Grade | See units that count | Letter grade or pass/fail on the transcript |
| Deadline | Brandon Valley: September 1; January 1 for a half-year change | Published grading and transcript-posting time, and any rush option |
| Approval | Brandon Valley: Not required by the agreement; request filed with transcript | Course descriptions or syllabi you can attach to an approval form |
| Price | Not set by the district | All-in price per credit, including any university or first-course fee (compare) |
Graduate-level credit providers, listed with the same facts
With those rules in hand, compare providers on the same points. Providers listed on this site, each with the same facts:
- Teacher Friendly: self-paced online, units through University of the Pacific; $336 first course for 3 credits (price notes)
- Credits for Educators: self-paced online, units through University of the Pacific; $297 for 3 credits (price notes)
- For Teachers By Teachers: self-paced, units through CSU Pueblo or UMass Global; $285 CSU Pueblo for 3 credits (price notes)
- Fresno Pacific University CE: self-paced, up to 1 year, units through Fresno Pacific University; ≈$475 for 3 credits (price notes)
- Graduate Credit Courses: self-paced, units through Cal Poly Humboldt; $570 for 3 credits (price notes)
- Model Teaching: self-paced, 1 year, units through a choice of six universities, including University of the Pacific; $359 for 3 credits (price notes)
The provider directory lists 28 providers and programs by what teachers need them for, and Compare sets published prices for 16 of them side by side, with transcripts from 11 universities. A listing on this site does not mean Brandon Valley has approved a provider or course; only the district can do that. TeacherPayGuide has commercial relationships with some providers it lists; how listings work.
Brandon Valley salary questions teachers ask
What lanes does the Brandon Valley schedule have?
BA, BA+15, MA, MA+15 and MA+30, on the hiring schedule in Appendix A of the agreement.
What credit counts for a Brandon Valley lane change?
Credit at the graduate level from an accredited university, shown on a transcript.
When is the Brandon Valley lane change deadline?
September 1 for a full-year change, or January 1 for a half-year change.
Does Brandon Valley pre-approve courses?
The agreement does not set a pre-approval step. The district can recover a lane change payment if the transcript does not confirm the teacher qualified.
How much experience does Brandon Valley credit for new hires?
Up to ten years of experience from other school systems toward step placement on the hiring schedule.
Where can Brandon Valley teachers take graduate-level courses for salary credit or renewal?
Brandon Valley decides which courses count, under the rules on this page, so check with human resources before you enroll. Providers that teachers compare include Teacher Friendly, Credits for Educators, For Teachers By Teachers, Fresno Pacific University CE, Graduate Credit Courses and Model Teaching. They differ in format, transcript university, grading time and price; the provider directory and the Compare page list 16 providers with the same facts for each.
Sources
- Agreement between the School Board of Brandon Valley School District 49-2 and the Brandon Valley Education Association, 2026-27, including Appendix A, Brandon Valley School District 49-2. Checked
- ARSD chapter 24:28:17, certificate renewal, South Dakota Legislature. Checked
Reviewed November 12, 2026 by TeacherPayGuide editors.Report an error