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In Every Issue:
Secretary's Column
CANS
In This Issue:
Secretary’s Column
By Dr. Rick Melmer, Secretary
Department of Education
Be careful what you wish for
Over
the past several years, the No Child Left Behind Act has been the
subject of much controversy and conversation among educators and those that
follow educational issues. NCLB has been the savior and the scapegoat,
depending on your perspective. It is safe to say that the NCLB initiative has
been a source of frustration for many educators in our state. Many people
would like to see the federal act disappear – allowing us to return to our
“normal” activities.
I am convinced that we will never return to “normal.” The days of low or no accountability are over. As we consider the modification or elimination of NCLB, we should think about what reform initiatives would take its place.
Consider the following questions regarding NCLB:
Will federal legislators embrace changes that reduce or eliminate accountability by local schools?
Will parents opt for the elimination of “choice” for their children?
Will parents settle for less communication in the future?
Will federal legislators and parents be content to accept teachers that are not trained to teach in their content area?
Will the American public quit looking at data to make informed decisions about school performance?
I think you would agree that the answers to the above questions are “no.” Accountability is here to stay, and the sooner we embrace it and learn to live with it, the better. NCLB doesn’t solve all of our problems, but we are beginning to learn the rules of the game. I expect the results of the 2004 Dakota STEP exams will show that South Dakota schools will improve due to the expectations of NCLB.
Program agreements
mailed in July
Child and Adult Nutrition
Services will mail out agreements and application renewal packages for 2004-05
by July 5. Forms can be downloaded after July 5. For more information,
call CANS at (605) 773-3413.
Attend back-to-school food
service conference
Plan to attend the back-to-school
conference of the South Dakota School Food Service Association and Child and
Adult Nutrition Services. The 33rd annual event will be held Aug.
3-6, at the Ramkota Convention Center in Aberdeen.
The event serves as a kickoff for child nutrition personnel to prepare for the coming school year. In addition to seminars, food service businesses provide items to consider for school meals. View the conference agenda (click on “Training and Technical Assistance”). Sessions appeal to food service personnel and administrative personnel involved in school meal service.
2010 Education Initiative coming your way
The Governor’s 2010 Education Initiative will provide a vision for South Dakota’s educational system, along with a road map for reaching that vision by the year 2010.
As part of the process, the Department of Education will host regional meetings across the state. The purpose of these meetings is to gather input from a broad spectrum of the population, including professionals within the school system, community and business leaders, legislators, parents and students. Four meetings will be held to address PreK-12 issues, and two meetings will be held to discuss post-secondary issues. In addition, the topic will be addressed at the Governor's Teacher Leadership Conference in October.
Graduation requirement reconsidered
At its July meeting, the Board of Education will consider removing a requirement concerning the Dakota STEP and graduation. Scheduled to be implemented in January 2005, the requirement states that, in order to graduate, a student’s high school transcript must include documentation that he or she has taken the Dakota STEP test in 11th grade.
A first reading of this issue was heard at the board’s May meeting. Discussion at that session identified circumstances – such as illness or a student new to a district as a senior – that could interfere with a student taking the test, and thus, not having met the requirement.
A second hearing on the subject will take place at the Board of Education’s July 26-27 meeting in Pierre.
Education professionals from across the state, in cooperation with Educational Testing Services, have recommended qualifying scores on 39 Praxis content and pedagogy tests. Before being presented to the Board of Education at its November meeting, the recommended qualifying scores will undergo further study by content specialists and a test advisory council.
Once the recommended scores have been approved by the Board of Education, they will be required for certification of new teachers after July 1, 2005.
Existing teachers will not be required to take the Praxis tests. However, all future endorsements will require that a content test be taken before it will be added unto a certificate. No coursework will be required, although many teachers may want to take it. The Department of Education will request verification of a qualifying test score only for the specific content area, in order for the endorsement to be added to a certificate.
Existing teachers may begin taking the tests during dates in April and June 2005. Teachers new to the profession will take the test in fall 2005 and submit their qualifying scores to the Department of Education for certification.
The tests meet the “highly qualified” teacher requirement of No Child Left Behind. Currently, existing teachers meet “highly qualified” status by being fully certified, having a bachelor’s degree, and three years of experience. Until the tests are ready, South Dakota is allowing those new to the profession to validate their content knowledge by passing the CAAP test or by submitting a portfolio at their individual university. For out-of-state teachers, the department requests verification that the individual has taken and passed a content exam.
For more information about the content and pedagogy tests, contact Melody Schopp, Office of Accreditation and Teacher Quality, at (605) 773-5232. melody.schopp@state.sd.us
Funds available for educating homeless students
Grants to address the education of homeless youth are now available through the Department of Education. An estimated 4,973 South Dakota children were homeless at some time in 1999.
Local education agencies may apply for the federal funds, known as McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants. Applicants must direct the use of their funds to facilitating the enrollment, attendance and success of homeless youth in schools. Services may be provided through programs on school grounds or at other facilities. As much as possible, services should be provided through existing mechanisms that integrate homeless with non-homeless individuals.
Estimated funds available are $130,000. The minimum award will be $10,000. (Future funding is subject to continuance of federal funds.) Funds will be distributed to school districts on a competitive basis. Applications must be postmarked no later than Aug. 1, 2004. The grant period is Aug. 1, 2004-June 30, 2005.
View full information and an online application, or contact Beth Schiltz, Office of Educational Services and Support, at (605) 773-4716. beth.schiltz@state.sd.us
School Bus Inc. to manage required training
The Department of Education has contracted with School Bus Inc. to manage training and busing concerns, as they relate to state and federal regulations. The Sioux Falls-based company will hold training workshops for drivers and attendants across the state.
Two options for meeting state-required training will be available. A “Train the Trainer” program allows school districts and contractors to train their own bus drivers. This option allows districts and contractor to send an individual such as a superintendent, bus supervisor, or anyone wishing to train their bus drivers to a “Train the Trainer” session. Upon completion of the course, the driver can go back to the district and train its drivers. “Train the Trainer” sessions are slated for July 27 in Sioux Falls; July 28 in Pierre; and July 30 in Rapid City. Sessions last approximately six hours. Cost is $40 per person. Participants must pre-register by July 16. All "Train the Trainer" sessions begin at 10a.m. Information on the exact location of the training will be sent out the week of July 19.
For information or to register for a session, call School Bus Inc. at
(605) 334-6644.
For those that don’t wish to participate in the "Train the Trainer" option, sessions will be held at the following locations:
Cost for the above classes will be $25 per person. For information or to register for one of these sessions, call Harlow's Bus Sales at 1-888-419-4023.
Either training option ensures that districts are in compliance with ARSD 24:06:08 and SDCL 32-12A-27. For information or to register for sessions, call School Bus Inc. at (605) 334-6644.
New teacher renewal requirements take effect Oct. 1, 2005
The new rule concerning renewal credits for teachers requires the following: A minimum of three of the six semester hours (five of the nine quarter hours) must be college-transcripted hours. Previously, renewal credits could be any combination of Department of Education-sponsored credits and/or college credits. The rule takes effect Oct. 1, 2005.
The new rule does allow for DOE credits earned before Jan. 1, 2004, to be accepted in lieu of the requirements effective Oct. 1, 2005, provided the credits were earned between the last issuance date of the individual’s current certificate and Jan. 1, 2004. Any renewal credits earned after Jan. 1, 2004, must meet the new requirements.
For more information, contact Gwen Rothenberger, Office of Accreditation and Teacher Quality, at (605) 773-5470. gwen.rothenberger@state.sd.us
Math teachers sponsor summer symposium
The South Dakota Council of Teachers of Mathematics will sponsor a summer math symposium, Aug. 6, at O’Gorman High School in Sioux Falls.
Designed for K-12 teachers, the symposium’s theme is “Finding the New Mathematics Standards in Your Curriculum.” Participants will learn to adapt curriculum to correspond with the new math standards, as well as to create usable lesson plans and tests. Presenters include members of South Dakota’s Mathematics Standards writing team.
Cost is $50. To learn more about the event, click here. Contact Chuck Holmstrom, symposium coordinator, at (605) 361-5154 or holmstromc@sf.k12.sd.us.
Online resource for
paraprofessionals available
The Department of Education has created a
Web page to support paraprofessionals. The site offers information
regarding federal regulations specific to being “qualified” under the
provisions of No Child Left Behind. It also provides information about
professional development opportunities and financial assistance for tuition.
Questions regarding paraprofessionals should be directed to Nicole Kranzler at
(605) 773-3426.