• Secretary's Column:
• Education dominates 2006 Legislature
• The future is now - Pilot sites wanted for laptop project
• Award recognizes healthy schools
• Nominate your classroom leaders

• South Dakota applies to be "growth model" pilot

• Mini-grants promote healthy children

• Online Consolidation Application available in April

• One-time 10-year certificate offered

• Upcoming Events

Secretary's Column:

Saying yes rather than no

All of us have mentors, people who have impacted our lives along our professional path.  One of my mentors is Dennis Peterson. I worked with Dennis in Mitchell, S.D., and Cheyenne, Wyo., where he served as the superintendent and I was an elementary principal. 

I learned a great deal about leadership from Dennis – pearls that have remained a part of my thought process ever since we parted ways in 1990. One of the comments that he made that I have never forgotten is this: “It is easier to say ‘no’ than to say ‘yes.’” As I reflect on that statement, I can honestly say that it is true in my life, and it has certainly been true during the past legislative session.

Think about it: When you say “no,” you are ensuring that there will be no changes. There will be fewer conflicts, and the status quo will be upheld. People like consistency and normalcy. They like the predictability of knowing that tomorrow will be the same as today. The old saying that the only person who likes change is a baby with a wet diaper is not completely wrong. Therefore, it is easy to understand why people, and specifically leaders in our communities, state and country, have a tendency to say “no” rather than “yes.” There just appear to be fewer conflicts if you maintain the status quo.

The challenge that Dennis left with me is that leaders find a way to say “yes.” True leaders have the courage to tackle the inevitable challenges that come with saying “yes.” Leaders understand that saying “yes” means that a new idea has a chance, that innovation will be rewarded, and that the status quo will not assumed to be right but rather tested regularly to make sure it is fair to all people.

I admire people who find a way to say “yes” because I think that is how organizations improve. Imagine if the pioneers of the past would have decided it was too risky to venture out of their comfort zones. Our world would be a different and more primitive place.

As we move ahead with our education program, we move past the 2006 session where our legislators said “yes” to some issues like virtual school, mandatory kindergarten, school funding, scarcity and the Classroom Connections program. They said “no” to programs like compulsory attendance to 18 and the teacher compensation assistance program. We must strive to ensure that the “yes” votes were worth it and that the “no” votes can be considered on another day. 

My challenge to you as a leader is to find ways to say “yes” in your school or district.  Embrace the challenges and enthusiasm that come with planned and positive change. I think our schools will benefit from leaders who find ways to say “yes” to our students, staffs and communities.

Education dominates 2006 Legislature

As always, issues related to education played a major role in the legislative session. The 2006 Legislature ended with a flurry of activity in the final days. Below is a brief overview of the highlights.

• Gov. Mike Rounds initially proposed a 3 percent increase in state aid for fiscal year 2007, which translates to an additional $127.13 per student. Lawmakers added an additional $54 per student in one-time money.

• Lawmakers set aside an amount of $1.5 million for sparse school districts.

• The governor’s proposal to provide one-time energy relief to schools passed in the form of Senate Bill 202. It appropriates $2.3 million for this purpose.

• Two major pieces of the 2010 Education Initiative – virtual school and mandatory kindergarten – will become law.

• The virtual school bill (House Bill 1236 described below) allows the department and Board of Education to ensure consistency, quality and accessibility in virtual school offerings across South Dakota.

• Mandatory kindergarten (House Bill 1175 described below) met some opposition from lawmakers but, ultimately, survived with a flourish. Providing a strong start for South Dakota’s youngest students is essential to their future academic success. Mandatory kindergarten becomes effective in 2010.  

• Classroom Connections, the laptop initiative under the 2010 Education plan, will proceed as a pilot project in 2006-07. The goal is to have 5,000 to 10,000 students participate in the project’s first year.

• A bill to require students to attend high school until age 18 did not make it through the legislative process. The department hopes to bring this issue back again next year, as it is a key component of the 2010E plan.

• Several bills related to sexuality education in schools did not survive. House Bill 1217 addressed instruction of sexual abstinence in schools. Senate Bill 196 required balanced instruction on human sexuality. And, House Bill 1194 sought to prohibit the distribution of contraceptives to public school students and to prohibit school employees from referring students to abortion or family planning services.

• The general funding bill for state government (Senate Bill 209) included several amendments that impacted education. One amendment (209zb) eliminated $3.5 million for the Governor’s proposed teacher compensation assistance program. Another amendment (209zi) provided an additional nonrecurring $800,000 for postsecondary technical institutes. And 209ze transferred $3.8 million in E-rate and Wiring the Schools revenue from the Department of Education to the general fund to balance the budget.

Descriptions of major education bills from the 2006 legislative session appears below. To review a complete bill, go to http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2006/index.aspx, type in the bill number and click “Get Bill.”

Senate Bill 83

Currently, National Board Certified (NBC) teachers in South Dakota receive $2,000 per year for the first five years after receiving certification. This cost is split equally by the local district and the state. The new legislation commits the state to continuing payment of NBC stipends for five additional years, as long as the local district also continues to pay a stipend. The state will pay an amount equal to the amount offered by the local school district up to $1,000.

Senate Bill 168

This legislation addresses career and technical education programs at the secondary level. It provides an appropriation of $1 million for school districts to provide funding for career and tech-ed programs. Districts apply for the funding through a competitive grant process run by the Department of Education.

Senate Bill 198

The final education funding bill, SB 198 provides school districts with $6.5 million on top of regular state aid distributed through the formula. Under 198, school districts must meet adequate yearly progress (AYP) in reading and math in order to receive this funding. Districts that do not meet AYP may apply to the Department of Education for a grant to assist the district in meeting future academic targets. This bill also provides for $1.5 million to be distributed among sparse school districts.

Senate Bill 202

This bill provides K-12 school districts and the technical institutes with $2.3 million to cover increases in heating costs during the 2005-06 school year. This money is available on a one-time only basis. Districts must submit a form showing the increase in energy costs for 2004-05 to 2005-06.

House Bill 1025  

This clean-up bill clarifies the levy for the special education fund. It sets the levy at $1.20 per $1,000 of valuation (as opposed to $1.25 per $1,000 of valuation).

House Bill 1060

This bill revises the property tax levies for the general fund of a school district, as required by the Cutler-Gabriel amendment. It maintains the state’s proportion of the total funding of K-12 education.

House Bills 1079 and 1176

These two bills work in tandem to offer a definition of an “enrolled student,” a term used in the tracking of average daily membership within a school district. A student is considered enrolled if:

1. The student is less than twenty-one years of age on the first day of July or the student is twenty-one years of age or older and is admitted to the school district pursuant to §13-28- 8; and

2. The student has not completed an approved program or graduated from high school; and

3. The student’s parent or guardian resides within the school district, or in the case of an emancipated minor or an adult admitted to the district pursuant to §13-28-8, the student resides within the district or the student has been properly assigned to the district or has been approved to attend school in the district under the terms of the enrollment options program established in §13-28-40; and

4. The student is not simultaneously enrolled in any other school district and has not been excused from school attendance under the terms of §13-27-1.1 or §13-27-2.

House Bill 1147

Under current law, any student who possesses, uses or distributes drugs is ineligible to participate in extracurricular activities for one year. This law applies to any secondary school accredited by the Department of Education. The new legislation allows for the one-year suspension to be reduced to 60 school days if the person participates in an assessment with a certified chemical dependency counselor or completes an accredited intensive prevention or treatment program. If the assessment indicates the need for a higher level of care, the student is required to complete the prescribed program before becoming eligible to participate in extracurricular activities.

House Bill 1175

The Governor’s 2010 Education Initiative calls for giving students a strong start to ensure future academic success. This bill requires that all children attend kindergarten prior to starting first grade. It sets a minimum number of hours for kindergarten, 437.5 hours, which is half of what is required for grades 1-3. It also allows parents and guardians the flexibility to determine at what age their child is ready to begin kindergarten. Mandatory kindergarten will become effective July 1, 2010.

House Bill 1182

This legislation provides consistency regarding expenditures from capital outlay for transportation costs. It allows school districts that reimburse for mileage to use the capital outlay fund to pay for 15 percent of mileage reimbursement costs. Schools that provide student transportation currently have the ability to expend capital outlay funds not to exceed 15 percent of the contract amount.

House Bill 1236

A statewide virtual school becomes reality under this bill. HB 1236 provides for the establishment of a Virtual High School Advisory Council, which will advise the department, Board of Education and other education-related organizations on issues related to distance learning. It also gives the Department of Education authority to promulgate rules related to the virtual high school. The department’s goal with this legislation is to ensure consistency, quality and accessibility in virtual school offerings across South Dakota.

The future is now

Pilot sites wanted for laptop project

Applications to become a pilot site for the Governor’s 2010 Education laptop project – Classroom Connections – are now available. More than 60 school districts recently attended a session outlining the details of the project.

“This initiative levels the playing field, so that students who don’t have access to computers at home now have the same opportunities as their peers,” said Dr. Rick Melmer, secretary of the South Dakota Department of Education. “It will help our students develop critical 21^st century skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, research and communication.”

According to Melmer, a laptop classroom has the potential to transform the educational process – making it more relevant and engaging for students. “The teacher becomes more of a facilitator, and students become more engaged and self-directed,” Melmer said.

Through the Classroom Connections project, the state will pay one-third of the cost of laptops for students in grades 9-12. The district would be responsible for the remaining two-thirds. The same arrangement holds true for teachers’ laptops. Finally, the state would provide for initial professional development for teachers, administrators and technical support people.

The state hopes to reach 5,000 to 10,000 students in the first year of the pilot program.

Districts interested in applying to be a pilot site should e-mail Wade Pogany at the Department of Education, wade.pogany@state.sd.us. The application request must come from the district superintendent or chief executive officer. Completed applications will be due back to the department May 15. Pilot sites will be announced May 22.  

Award recognizes healthy schools

Gov. Mike Rounds challenges South Dakota’s public schools to vie for a Governor’s Healthy School Award in the 3^rd annual competition. Winners receive a $5,000 award.

“Obesity continues to be an issue for young people around the country and here in South Dakota,” said Gov. Rounds. “We know that healthy students learn better, and this program recognizes schools that actually try to improves their students' health.”

Winners will be selected in four categories: elementary school, middle school/junior high, high school, and school district. The top candidate in each category will receive $5,000 and a Healthy School banner.

Schools will be judged on eight key components, including: health education, physical education, health services, nutrition services, counseling/psychological and social services, healthy school environment, health promotion for staff, and parent/community involvement.

An application form is available online.  (Note: This is not a grant award; it is a recognition of outstanding programs.) Requests for applications must be made by public school superintendents, assistant superintendents, principals or assistant principals. The deadline for submitting applications is May 1. For more information, call the Coordinated School Health Program at (605) 773-3261.

Lifetime certificates: What is the status?

In recent months, the Office of Accreditation and Teacher Quality has received inquiries regarding the advanced professional certificate. In 1980, administrative rules were put in place that approved an “advanced professional certificate” – sometimes referred to as the “lifetime certificate.” This short-lived certificate was granted to individuals who had obtained an advanced degree and had applied for the designation.

The rule was repealed on July 1, 1983. However, it allowed for the advanced professional certificates to remain valid as long as the educator meets at least one of the following requirements:

Has a minimum of eight months of actual teaching experience in a state-accredited elementary or secondary school during each five-year period;

Engages in other educational work at least eight months during each five-year period; or

Earns a minimum of six semester or nine quarter hours of college or renewal credit in academic subjects or professional education during each five-year period.

If an individual does not meet one of the above requirements, a one-year certificate with applicable expiration dates may be issued, depending on how recently the educator received renewal credit. The applicant will then need to renew the certificate with six semester or renewal hours of credit every five years.

Questions regarding these “lifetime certificates” can be directed to the department’s certification officers at certification@state.sd.us or (605) 773-3134.

Do you know an educator – someone relatively new to the field – who represents the state’s best? Whose lessons provide models for others? Who has distinguished himself or herself above the top-quality professionals in many of our schools? If so, we want to hear from you!

The Department of Education maintains a list of Emerging Classroom Leaders, which consists of a cadre of distinguished teachers and principals. These educators may be considered for membership on advisory boards and task forces, as well as candidates for special recognition programs.

While our pool currently includes a solid base of veteran educators, we need representation from educators relatively new to the profession who demonstrate unusual instruction and leadership ability as well as an inspiring presence.

So, who should you recommend for this prestigious pool? Candidates must have a minimum of five years of experience in education. Candidates are building-level personnel. They are typically classroom teachers, as opposed to specialists, and are recognized by peers and supervisors as unique in their growth. Occasionally, a principal or specialist is considered. Previous recognition is not required.

To nominate someone for our Emerging Classroom Leaders Pool, visit our Office of Accreditation and Teacher Quality online. In addition to filling out the form, we ask that you include a one-page narrative, which addresses how the candidate meets the criteria mentioned above, and a resume if possible. Please keep your recommendation confidential and do not share it with the individual.

South Dakota applies to be "growth model" pilot

South Dakota is one of 20 states to apply to test a growth-based accountability model under No Child Left Behind (NCLB). In November of 2005, U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings announced that her department would approve no more than 10 growth model pilots in 2005-06.

The South Dakota Department of Education submitted its application in February. Final recommendations of the review committee, which consists of national experts, are due to Spellings in May.

“After discussing the issue internally and getting feedback from educators in the field, we decided to make the application,” said Dr. Rick Melmer, secretary of the South Dakota Department of Education. “This model should give schools credit for improvement over time.”

Under the proposed growth model, South Dakota schools that don’t make adequate yearly progress (AYP) under the existing model would have another opportunity to make AYP via the growth model. AYP based on the growth model would be determined separately for reading and math.

The state’s growth model would look at individual gains made by students scoring below the “proficient” level. A mean gain score would be computed. The student group, school or district grade span would be said to make AYP if the mean gain from the previous year to the current year puts the group on track to meeting, or exceeding, proficiency in four years.

If chosen as a pilot site, South Dakota’s growth-based accountability model would be implemented in the 2006-07 school year. School districts should not have to provide any additional information to the state under this model. All growth model calculations would be run by the Department of Education.

When the status of the state’s application is announced, the department will forward that information to schools.     

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Mini-grants promote healthy children

Twenty-one schools and agencies recently received mini-grants from the department to fund nutrition and physical activity projects. Recipients were awarded grants of up to $1,000. A total amount of $19,224 was awarded. Funding was provided through the Team Nutrition and Coordinated School Health programs.

Examples of funded projects include the following: Taste Test Tuesday at St. Mary’s Elementary in Sioux Falls, a program that encourages students to try healthy foods; walking clubs such as Walk Across South Dakota, offered by the S.D. Human Services Center; and health fairs such as at Wakonda, where students will record a CD called “Be Fit, Eat Right, Be Healthy.”

A complete list of grant recipients appears below.

• Belle Fourche School District                            

• Bethesda Sharing Center, Aberdeen              

• Corisca School District             

• Flandreau School District                                    

• Howard School District                

• Lower Brule Sioux High School

• Madison Central School District

• Madison Central-Washington Elementary            

• Marty Indian School                            

• Pierre School District               

• Sanborn Central School District                        

• SD Human Services Center, Yankton                

• Sioux Falls School District                         

• Sioux YMCA, Dupree                                        

• St. Mary’s Catholic Schools, Dell Rapids                 

• St. Mary’s Elementary School, Sioux Falls       

• Tiger Post Community Center, Ipswich           

• Wakonda School District         

• Webster School District                         

• Wessington Springs Elementary                    

• Youth and Family Services, Rapid City 

Online Consolidation Application available in April

South Dakota is moving into the electronic age with its Consolidated Application process. In March, a small group of school districts across the state will test the new e-grant system. Following the test period, the department expects to open up the online Consolidated Application to all school districts sometime in April.  

“Because this is a brand-new system, we know that we will have some challenges,” said Dr. Rick Melmer, secretary of the South Dakota Department of Education. “This test-period will give us a chance to work out some of those kinks.”

An electronic grant system should result in a number of benefits to schools, including the following:

• The e-grant system is expected to improve the turnaround time for approval of applications. The electronic system will help to ensure that information being provided via the application is complete. It also allows for interaction between schools and state-level program representatives as schools fill out the application. Both of these features should reduce the amount of follow-up required once an application has been submitted.

• The e-grant system also should make it easier for schools to budget. With the e-grant process, the district’s fund balances will be preprogrammed into the system. The system will not allow an application to be sent if the budget has exceeded the preprogrammed amount.

• Finally, the e-grant system will eliminate paperwork.

One-time 10-year certificate offered

The South Dakota Board of Education recently passed administrative rules that allow educators to acquire a one-time 10-year certificate once they complete an advanced degree. An advanced degree includes a master’s, specialist, doctorate, or National Board Certification.

Any educator who has completed an advanced degree between October 2000 and March 2006 will have the option to have their certificate reflect an expiration date 10 years forward from the date of advanced degree completion. This change of expiration date can be reflected on the certificate without charge. However, a standard fee of $20 will be charged to applicants who request that a new copy of the certificate be mailed to them. 

For any educators completing an advanced degree after March 2006, a request for a one-time 10-year certificate will be honored for a $50 fee.

The Department of Education will send letters to those educators who have an advanced degree currently recorded on the state’s certification system. The letter will give them the option to request that their certificate be adjusted to reflect the extended expiration date. Certificates will not automatically be updated to reflect the 10-year extension from date of completed advanced degree.  

Educators will be provided a change of expiration date form in the mailing. The form must be returned to the department in order to attain the renewal date extension. Those educators who have not previously submitted documentation for advanced degrees may do so by e-mailing the department’s certification officers at certification@state.sd.us.

The 10-year certificate does not eliminate the need for educators to earn six credits for future renewal. At the end of the extended renewal period, every educator that wishes to renew his or her certificate must have earned six credits between the issue date on his or her current certificate and the extended expiration date. However, credits can be any combination of Department of Education-sponsored credits and college credits. 

Upcoming Events

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

HOT TOPICS: Testing workshops offered across state

In preparation for this spring’s testing administration, the Department of Education offers test coordinators the opportunity to attend Dakota STEP Pre-Test and Stanford Writing Post-Test Workshops. The workshops will be held Feb. 27-March 3, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m., in Rapid City, Aberdeen, Pierre and Sioux Falls. (See schedule below.)

The workshops will help schools prepare for spring testing by addressing the following topics: testing students with disabilities, alternate assessment use, test administration issues, and proper packaging and shipping. In addition, there will be an update on Stanford Writing results from fall 2005.

Workshop Schedule:

Pre-registration is required and available online at www.southdakotapd.com/registration.asp. The deadline to register is Feb. 17.

NOTE: Harcourt’s Spectrum site for ordering Dakota STEP testing materials will re-open March 6-17.

For more information, contact Gay Pickner at (605) 773-3247 or gay.pickner@state.sd.us.