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Board approves new
options for principal certification
Additional certification
options now are available for principals in South Dakota. The options were
approved by the Board of Education.
DOE proposes new
accreditation model
An accreditation advisory
council was established earlier this summer. The group has proposed a new
three-tiered model for district accreditation.
Funds
available for teachers pursuing National Board Certification
The Candidate Subsidy
Program helps teachers striving for National Board Certification, by
offsetting a portion of their application fee. NBC is geared to teachers who
seek higher levels of professional growth.
Grant money available
to enhance youth education
Grant applications for the
21st Century Community Learning Centers Program are being accepted
from schools, community organizations and local entities that work together to
enhance youth education.
South Dakota testing
dates set
Dates have been set for
the state’s major assessments. View the schedule, and mark your calendars.
Testing coordinators invited to September
workshop
Interpretative workshops
for the Dakota STEP assessment will be held Sept. 20-24, 2004,
at locations across the state. The
workshops also will cover topics such as the upcoming Stanford Writing
Assessment and Reading Field Test.
Curriculum mapping
workshops tour the state
By summer’s end, 760 South Dakota teachers will
have participated in curriculum mapping workshops hosted by the Department of
Education. Additional workshops are slated for the 2004-05 school year.
Alert to Special
Education teachers, directors
Special Education teachers
should not use the current STAARS portfolio for assessing students for
2004-05. The department’s Special Education Programs is revising the STAARS
alternate assessment, in order for students with disabilities to participate
fully in the statewide assessment system.
Extended Standards
draft issued
The Department of
Education has issued a draft of Extended Standards to promote access to the
general curriculum and to ensure that students with significant cognitive
disabilities are challenged to meet the highest standards possible.
Te@ch grants available
from Best Buy
Best Buy and the Best Buy
Children’s Foundation recently launched its te@ch grant program. The program
will award $2,500 to 1,200 U.S. schools that make learning fun by creatively
integrating technology into school curriculum.
Online advanced
placement courses available for 2004-05
Advanced placement courses
will be offered in 14 areas for the 2004-05 school year. The Department of
Education once again has entered into an agreement with Apex Learning Inc. to
deliver these online AP courses.
Digital Curriculum
renewed through 2006
The Department of
Education has renewed statewide access to the Digital Curriculum package for
South Dakota’s public schools until July 2006.
WebCT available for
2004-05 free of charge
South Dakota educators in
grades K-12 may use the WebCT upon completion of training. The service is free
throughout the 2004-05 school year. Teachers find the WebCT a useful method
for organizing course materials and making them available to student 24 hours
a day, seven days a week.
Grant resource page
established
The department has
developed a
grant resource Web page to aid schools in finding grant opportunities. For
more information, contact Mark Heilmann at (605) 280-3612 or
mark.heilmann@state.sd.us.
Scientifically based
research makes the grade
Learn more about scientifically based research on the department’s Web site. You’ll find
great resources such as the What Works Clearinghouse, established by the U.S.
Department of Education to provide a central and trusted source of scientific
evidence of what works in education.
Training required for school bus drivers
As school districts gear up for a new year, they also must provide State-approved
training for all bus drivers. Read this article for details on requirements
and resources.
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