For a more complete list of professional development opportunities, visit www.southdakotapd.com.

• Pre-test workshops address Dakota ELP, Dakota STEP-A

• Study sessions prepare special education teachers for Praxis II

• Crosswalk training for CTE teachers scheduled
   

Pre-test workshops address Dakota ELP, Dakota STEP-A

Pre-test workshops for the Dakota English Language Proficiency Assessment (Dakota ELP) and the Dakota STEP-A, the statewide alternate assessment for the Dakota STEP, will be offered in January. The sessions are provided by the South Dakota Department of Education and Harcourt Assessment.

Topics covered for the new augmented Dakota ELP will include test coordinator information, administration, using the rubrics and scoring the oral portion of the Dakota ELP. Topics related to the Dakota STEP-A will include receiving, distributing and returning test materials, as well as administering, collecting and documenting evidence.

School districts are strongly encouraged to send test coordinators, teachers administering the Dakota ELP, special education directors and special education teachers administering the Dakota STEP-A to the workshop.

The workshops are scheduled as follows:
Jan. 9, Rapid City
Rushmore Plaza Holiday Inn
505 N. 5th St. – Exit 58

Jan. 10, Pierre
Pierre Chamber Community Room
800 W. Dakota Ave.

Jan. 11, Aberdeen
Best Western Ramkota
1400 8th Ave. N.W. (Hwy 281 N.)

Jan. 12, Sioux Falls
Holiday Inn City Centre
100 W. 8th St.


All workshops will run from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. Registration is required. Please register at www.southdakotapd.com.
 

Study sessions prepare special education teachers for Praxis II

The South Dakota Department of Education is sponsoring free study sessions to help special education teachers prepare for the Praxis II content exam. These study sessions will be conducted by faculty members from Black Hills State University, Dakota State University, Northern State University, and the University of South Dakota. Each study session will be held on a Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sessions are being offered now through April 2006.

Participants will:
• receive detailed study guides;
• view Web sites containing help materials and practice tests;
• review test-taking skills; and
• become familiar with the format of the Praxis exam.

Some study sessions already have been held. The remaining sessions (listed below) will focus on the Praxis Middle School Content Test.

• Jan. 14 - Rapid City - Location to be determined
• Jan. 28 - Aberdeen - Location to be determined
• Feb. 4 - Watertown - Location to be determined
• Feb. 4 - Winner - Location to be determined
• Feb. 11 - Sioux Falls - Location to be determined
• April 1 - Sioux Falls - Location to be determined

A limited number of seats are available at each study session. Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis. To register, visit http://everyteacher.tie.net/content/praxis.htm.

Crosswalk training for CTE teachers scheduled

By April of 2006, all of the state’s career and technical education (CTE) teachers are required to have their crosswalks completed and syllabi on file with the department’s Office of Career and Technical Education.
An upcoming workshop will train teachers in the crosswalk process and give them time to develop or update their course syllabi. The workshop is slated for Jan. 31 in Mitchell.

The goal of the statewide Crosswalk Project is to provide a standards-based curriculum for CTE programs that includes technical standards, academic standards and employability standards. By going through the crosswalks process, CTE teachers will:

• develop instructional strategies that meet the learning needs of all students;
• identify areas within the curriculum where academic, technical and transferable work skills need to be enhanced and integrated;
• meet Perkins accountability;
• assist schools in meeting state-adopted academic standards;
• help schools meet the requirements of No Child Left Behind.

Teachers can register for the workshop online at www.southdakotapd.com or by downloading the form and faxing or mailing it to the South Dakota Department of Education, Office of Career and Technical Education, 700 Governor’s Drive, Pierre, SD 57501. Fax: (605) 773-4236.