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Governor appoints Barb Everist to SD Board of Education
Governor Mike
Rounds recently appointed Barb Everist to serve on the South Dakota Board of
Education, filling a current vacancy. The appointment becomes effective June
1.
Deb
Barnett assumes deputy secretary post; Karon Schaack retires
Secretary Rick
Melmer has named long-time DOE staffer Deb Barnett to replace Karon Schaack in
the department’s deputy secretary position.
Six
of seven Education Service Agencies (ESA) selected
The SD Department
of Education announced the selection of six regional Education Service
Agencies (ESA) in this week; final selection of the center for Region 4 will
be announced at a later date.
NCLB
requires public high schools to provide student information to military
recruiters; state law requires ‘reasonable access’ to students
The South Dakota
Department of Education wants to remind public high schools and district
business offices that the provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act of
2001 (§ 9528) and the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2002 (§ 544) require public high schools to provide to
military recruiters, upon request, access to secondary school students and
directory information on those students. In addition, South Dakota laws
require public secondary schools to permit military recruiters, including
those from the South Dakota National Guard, “reasonable access” to school
facilities and students, for the purpose of providing information about
military careers and benefits.
Schools receive NCLB Summer
Reading Achievers materials from USDOE
U.S. Department of
Education materials inviting South Dakota schools to participate in the NCLB
Summer Reading Achievers program are beginning to arrive in local
elementary and middle schools across the state. The invitation urges
principals to hold a “Reading Rally” this month to peak students’ interest in
participating in the program. South Dakota is the only state in the nation
chosen for the NCLB Summer Reading Achievers program this year.
NCLB participation rate can be averaged; requirement
waived for medical emergency
The U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) recently released a new policy
regarding student participation in statewide assessments. The South Dakota
Department of Education (SDDOE) intends to take full advantage of the expanded
provisions.
USDOE
announces NCLB flexibility for “highly qualified teacher” provisions
The South Dakota
Department of Education recently received information from the US Department
of Education about additional NCLB flexibility in the implementation of the
“highly qualified teacher” provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).
Certification requirements change for teachers, administrators
The SD Board of
Education and the SD Legislature made changes recently that affect
certification of teachers and administrators.
Praxis certification tests validated; two-step phase-in planned in 2005, 2006
Validation of the
Praxis series of professional examinations for beginning teachers for use in
South Dakota is nearing completion. In addition, a two-step
phase-in system has been established for the implementation of the Praxis
exams into the state’s certification process.
Next
year’s assessment dates set; schools can use for calendar-planning
DOE is setting
dates for the annual writing assessment and Dakota-STEP assessment during the
04-05 school year so that schools can use them in planning the 04-05
calendar.
Test
scores to arrive this month; schools to get NCLB data during summer
Tests scores from
the SAT-10 norm-referenced tests administered this spring in grades 3-8 and
grade 11 will begin arriving back in school district offices the week of May
21, according to information from the scoring contractor, Harcourt Assessment,
San Antonio.
NCLB
annual targets for public districts to jump next school year
In response to
calls about South Dakota’s
annual measurable objectives (AMOs), here is an excerpt from the
state’s NCLB Accountability Workbook as approved by USDOE.
DOE
sets timelines for STAARS alternate assessment
Timelines for the revision of the STAARS alternate assessment
and extended alternate achievement standards for
South Dakota have been set.
Goal is full implementation of the revised STAARS instrument by all SD
districts for the 04-05 school year.
DACS - the online Dakota Assessment of Content
Standards - available next school year
South Dakota Schools can count on having the DACS - the online Dakota
Assessment of Content Standards - available free of charge during the 04-05
school year.
Suspension/expulsion data for sped students due June 30
The SD Department of Education, Office of Special Education, reminds school
districts to report suspension/expulsion data at the completion of the school
year and no later than June 30.
DOE
urges completion of DDN end-of-course evaluations
All districts
sending or receiving DDN spring courses are urged to complete online
class evaluation forms by Wednesday, May 5.
Schools urged to complete annual technology survey
Schools are
reminded to complete the annual technology survey ASAP.
Home
school records to be streamlined
Beginning July 1,
for the 2004-05 academic year, the alternative instruction (home
school) administrative functions required of public school districts will be
streamlined.
What
is Impact Aid (Title VIII)?
In response to
recent questions, DOE offers a brief synopsis of the federal Impact Aid
program.
First-ever Indian education summit draws 120; Governor asks for joint effort
Improving
relationships and establishing partnerships were identified as “first steps”
in improving the outcomes of K-12 education for Native American students in
South Dakota by the 120 participants in South Dakota’s first-ever Indian
education summit April 19-20.
“What
Parents Want” award honors 19 SD districts
Nineteen SD school
districts were recently chosen to receive the “What Parents Want” award from
SchoolMatch, Inc., a national school selection service.
Funding available to school libraries
School libraries
interested in improving literacy are alerted to the availability of federal
funds through the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries (LSL)
program. Funds are available through a competitive application process;
school libraries in districts with 20 percent or more family poverty are
invited to apply.
Supplemental texts available for teaching South Dakota history
Two new books from
the South Dakota State Historical Society Press offer additional resources for
teaching South Dakota history.
Tuition awards available for K-12 paraprofessionals taking summer courses
The Board of
Regents announces the availability of tuition awards for paraprofessionals who
choose to pursue academic coursework in order to establish “highly qualified”
status for the No Child Left Behind Act.
Paraprofessional academy set for July in Brookings; no cost to attend
A five-day
academy to assist paraprofessionals meet the NCLB “highly qualified”
requirements will be held on the campus of South Dakota State University (SDSU)
in Brookings July 26-30. There is no cost to attend the academy.
State
Character Education conference in
Pierre July 8-9
Nationally-recognized character education experts will headline the South
Dakota Character Education Conference in
Pierre
July 8-9.
DOE
sponsors GPS/GIS Institutes 2004
A series of
GPS/GIS Institutes are set for Summer 2004 in South Dakota.
Office of Career and Technical Education to sponsor summer workshops
Increasing
academics in the career and technical education classroom is more important
now than ever. The Office of Career and Technical Education will sponsor
workshops designed to help teachers meet the requirements of No Child Left
Behind and Perkins while providing students with hands-on, real-world
activities and projects.
Three
mathematics institutes for high school teachers to be held in July
Three intensive
summer institutes in mathematics will be held concurrently in July for high
school teachers.
Physics classes available this summer
The SDSU Physics
Department is planning to offer a number of physics content courses during
the summer this year (and also in the future) to assist teachers attain
content knowledge in key areas necessary for high school physics teacher
certification and Highly Qualified Teacher designation.
Five school health
workshops set for summer; training available on request
Five workshops will be offered by the
Coordinated School Health program, a collaborative effort between the SD
Departments of Education and Health, during the summer months. In addition,
schools may contact the program regarding
special training needs; personnel will look for ways to assist schools with
their requests. A minimum of 60 days prior notice is necessary for
special-request training.
TIE
offers full slate of summer workshops in Chamberlain, Rapid City, Sioux Falls
TIE is offering a
total of 52 workshops throughout the months of June, July and early August.
Topics include reading, math, Socratic Seminar Leadership, use of handhelds
(Palm and IPAC) in the classroom, network administration, and web
development. The events are scheduled at sites in Chamberlain, Sioux Falls,
and Rapid City.
Board
of Regents offers national board certification pre-candidate course
A 3-credit
graduate course will be offered by all five public universities that have
teacher education programs for practicing teachers who are interested in
pursuing certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching
Standards.
Pierre’s Discovery Center offers May programs for students, PTA
members, educators
Schools are
invited to send participants to special events at Pierre’s
Discovery
Center
during May. Scholarships
or registration subsidies are available for some groups.
Free VERB
"Anytime Doubletime" materials available now for middle schools
Free, ready-to-use materials that teachers can use to increase students’
physical activity are available through Centers for Disease Control.
FEMA's new online course helps schools develop effective emergency operations
plans
The Department of
Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is unveiled an
online, independent study course that will help educators and first responders
develop effective emergency operations plans for the wide array of potential
emergencies that schools face.
Amber
Alert emails available; provide details when child is abducted
SD citizens,
including school personnel, may sign up via an online website to receive Amber
Alert emails. |
