RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — A group of South Dakota legislators are calling for a special legislative session to address the state's teacher shortage.

State Representative Elizabeth May joined five fellow legislators Thursday in Rapid City to officially call for a session on August 17th. May tells KCCR-AM the teacher shortage is a "crisis" that needs to be addressed.

The Rapid City policymaker says they're sending letters to all state legislators asking if they support a special session.

May says they will allow 15 days for the letters to be returned. If they're not returned in that time, she says they'll be counted as a "no" vote.

The governor can order a special session but May says if two-thirds of legislators agree they can approve one themselves.

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