Gov. Rounds names S.D. Native American Education Advisory Council 
Governor Mike Rounds announced the creation of a new advisory council focused on education in South Dakota’s nine Native American reservations. 

Governor asks students to write to troops
Governor M. Michael Rounds invites students to join him in planning special mailings for St. Patrick’s Day and Easter.

Transcript requirement deferred by Board of Education; not needed for this spring’s graduates
An administrative rule that would have required high schools to verify that each senior had completed all sections of the grade 11 Dakota STEP test before issuing a diploma has been put on hold by the South Dakota Board of Education. 

Revised Reading and Communication Arts Content Standards adopted by SDBOE; reading standards to be assessed Spring 05
A revised version of the South Dakota K-12 Content Standards for Reading and Communication Arts was adopted by the South Dakota Board of Education at its January 2004 meeting.  Students in grades 3-8 and grade 11 will be assessed on how well they meet the new reading standards for the first time during the Spring 2005 Dakota STEP assessment.

New USDOE regs spell out inclusion of student results on alternate assessments in AYP
States may adopt alternate achievement standards for children with the most significant cognitive disabilities and include assessment scores based on those alternate standards in Title I adequate yearly progress (AYP) calculations, according to final regulations issued on December 9, 2003.

McREL’s Rural Technology Initiative Looking for Schools
McREL, the regional service center that serves South Dakota as well as 6 other states, is launching its “Rural Technology Initiative” (RTI), a new online staff development project aimed at helping rural schools, especially those in more remote locations, provide quality training in technology integration for both teachers and administrators. 

Artists-In-Schools deadline is April 1
The application deadline for schools and similar organizations wishing to sponsor an Artists-In-Schools & Communities (AISC) residency during the 2004-2005 school year is April 1, 2004.

Board clarifies rules for renewal of teaching certificates
Teachers who are renewing an existing South Dakota teaching certificate will be allowed to use any number of DOE “renewal credits” that were earned prior to January 1, 2004, towards their upcoming renewal.

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. 

Board to consider certificate for school social workers
A final hearing on proposed rules for issuance of a certificate for school social workers by the Department of Education is on the agenda for the South Dakota Board of Education’s March meeting. 

Grants available for teachers to attend AP Institutes
Grants are available to support teachers who are interested in teaching Advanced Placement courses and wish to attend one of several scheduled AP (Advanced Placement) Institutes at public universities in South Dakota this summer.

DOE offers training for SD online special education system
The Department of Education, Special Education Programs, is offering a series of workshops for school district staff interested in using the online special education program available for DDN Campus and SIMS Net users.

History workshops for teachers onsite at national landmarks
The National Endowment for the Humanities is offering for the first time this summer 17 workshops called Landmarks of American History.

Audio conference offers IDEA update on Congress, courts
On Feb. 11, a university professor of education will provide an update on the current status of the IDEA Reauthorization and case law.

High schools encouraged to send girls to March math/science conferences
South Dakota high schools are encouraged to send girls to the statewide Women in Science conferences during March.  The events are set for Aberdeen, Hot Springs, Pierre and Watertown.

Middle/high school students invited to sixth annual Career Expo
The sixth annual Career Expo will be held at the Sioux Empire Fairground Expo Building, Sioux Falls, April 23 from 9 a.m.–2:30 p.m. 

SD Poet Laureate hosts poetry contest
In celebration of National Poetry Month--April, David Allan Evans, Poet Laureate of South Dakota, invites middle school and high school students in South Dakota to enter original poems.

Group offers high schools and students cash prizes for essays
$6,000 is available to high schools and students that participate in the South Dakota Manufactured Housing Association's 12th annual essay contest.

CDC releases flu prevention resources for schools
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), working with the US Department of Education (USDOE), has prepared materials for educators to help reduce the impact of flu and other respiratory diseases in schools.

Publications available for school/community security planning
Information has been received from the SD Office of Emergency Management that may be useful to school officials who are members of their community’s emergency planning task force.  It may also be useful for school boards who are working on security plans for school buildings.

Birth to 3 Connections honors 3 providers
The Birth to 3 Connections program recognized three South Dakota providers for their dedication to infants and toddlers with developmental delays and/or disabilities.

150 schools receive height and weight equipment to track child obesity
The SD Department of Health is giving 198 balance beam scales and wall-mounted measuring boards to 150 South Dakota schools to help track the state’s growing child obesity problem.

Nat’l. Endowment for Humanities’ essay contest offers cash prizes
The National Endowment for the Humanities offers grade 11 students an opportunity to compete for cash prizes in a nationwide wide essay contest.

$1000 scholarships offered for leadership, essay
Mediacom invites graduating seniors to compete for $1,000 leadership scholarships through its World Class – Mediacom Scholarship Program.