Teach for America gets special certification status from SDBOE

Teach for America corps members will receive a special certificate allowing them to teach in South Dakota schools starting next fall, according to new administrative rules adopted by the SD Board of Education during its January meeting.  Teach for America is a non-profit organization that recruits recent college graduates to teach for two years in high need, low achieving schools where teacher shortages are evident.

The program, funded by private foundations, corporations and government agencies, has corps members in 20 locations across the country; the corps will expand into South Dakota next summer with the addition of Todd County School District to its roster.

SDBOE’s administrative rules will allow the department to issue a limited two-year certificate to corps members who have completed the organization’s intensive induction program and are assigned to a South Dakota school.  Corps members will be required to participate in mentoring and other coursework throughout their two-year teaching assignment in the state. 

More information about the program is available on its website at http://www.teachforamerica.org .