South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem outlawed the teaching of "critical race theory" (CRT) in the state back in April. Noem called CRT a "political and divisive ideology that teaches a distorted view of the United States of America and its institutions" in her executive order that outlawed its teaching.

That executive order prompted the state's Department of Education to conduct a review of its academic standards, guidance, and training. That review found instances of CRT embedded throughout South Dakota's educational curriculum, according to a report released by the Department of Education on Aug. 15.

Instances of CRT, along with "other divisive concepts," were reportedly discovered in the South Dakota Department of Education's policies, guidance, websites, trainings, content standards, and "other materials," Gov. Noem's office said in a release. Gov. Noem has promised to eradicate those instances.

We are proactively removing Critical Race Theory before it has any opportunity to take hold in our schools,” Noem said in her office's release. “We are taking action to promote America’s true and honest history, including the history and culture of our Native American tribes, without any influence of Critical Race Theory or other divisive concepts.”

As a given example, a high school social studies standard encouraged students to "circulate a petition, organize a rally, champion a boycott," the report said. That standard was reportedly adopted in 2015. The report also cited a state mandate that requires the three-credit course "South Dakota Indian Studies" for educators.

Some institutions are instructing students to attain "a fundamental awareness of cultural dynamics such as race and gender bias, stereotyping, assumptions etc.," the report also said.

The report also noted that K-12 academic standards in South Dakota for a class called "Introduction to Law and Public Safety II" asked students to "analyze differences in power and privilege related to people of culturally diverse backgrounds, beliefs and practices." Also, students in that class were told to look at issues of "cultural assimilation and cultural preservation among ethic and racial groups" that occur not just in the state, but in America as a whole, the report said.

Out of the thousands of items reviewed, a very small number were deemed to be out of alignment with Governor Noem’s executive order,” Secretary of the Department of Education Tiffany Sanderson said in the press release issued by Noem's office. “The department is taking action to modify or discontinue those items. I am proud of the department’s work, and we will continue working to ensure that South Dakota students have the opportunity to receive a robust and honest social studies education.”

On the same day the report was released, Gov. Noem released her draft for the state's new K-12 social studies academic standards on American history.

South Dakota’s children deserve the very best social studies education in the nation,” Gov. Noem said in her release. “These standards raise the bar for the breadth and depth of civics and history education. They feature a true, honest, and balanced approach to American history that is not influenced by political agendas. And under these standards, our students will focus more on Native American history and culture than ever before."

The new curriculum features "expanded South Dakota and Native American history and civics, representing the most robust emphasis on Native American history and civics of any draft standards to-date," the release says.