In June, South Dakota was awarded a five-year, $20 million federal Teacher Incentive Fund grant. Through the TIF program, South Dakota will implement a performance-based compensation system for principals and teachers at 30 pilot schools. TIF rewards improvements in teaching and learning as measured by increases in student achievement.

“With this grant, we have the potential to impact as many as 700 principals and teachers, not to mention all of their students,” said Education Secretary Rick Melmer.

The program aims to build the capacity of principals and teachers to provide effective, targeted instruction for increasing student achievement. And it rewards educators who make strides in these areas. Performance awards are based on a combination of the school’s performance and the individual’s performance. An individual principal may receive a maximum of $6,000 annually through the TIF program. An individual teacher may receive a maximum of $3,750 annually, and a teacher aide may receive up to $1,100 annually.

“This grant complements what we have started as a state with the Teacher Compensation Assistance Program,” Melmer said. “It’s one more avenue to assist local districts in addressing teacher pay. While TCAP targets district instructional goals, TIF is specifically tied to student achievement and educator performance.”

Both plans include avenues to provide incentive dollars for hard-to-fill teaching positions.

As required by the TIF grant, only high-needs schools – defined as schoolwide Title I schools with at least 40 percent low-income students – are eligible to participate in the program. At the time of South Dakota’s grant application, 34 schools were eligible to participate. Thirty of those elected to participate in the application process. (See list below.) Other qualifying schools may be added in subsequent years.

For information about this program, contact Melody Schopp, Department of Education, at (605) 773-5232 or melody.schopp@state.sd.us. 

List of participating TIF schools (by district)

Andes Central School District

      Andes Central Elementary

Belle Fourche School District

      Belle Fourche Middle School

Bennett County School District

      Martin Elementary

McLaughlin School District

      McLaughlin Elementary

      McLaughlin Middle School

Oelrichs School District

      Oelrichs Elementary

      Oelrichs Junior High School

Rapid City School District

      General Beadle Elementary

      Horace Mann Elementary

      Knollwood Heights Elementary

      Robbinsdale Elementary

      North Middle School

Shannon County School District

      Batesland Elementary

      Red Shirt Table Elementary

      Rockyford Elementary

      Wolf Creek Elementary

Smee School District

      Wakpala Elementary

      Wakpala High School

Todd County School District

      He Dog Elementary

      North Elementary

      O’Kreek Elementary

      Rosebud Elementary

      South Elementary

      Spring Creek Elementary

      Todd County Middle School

      Todd County High School

White River School District

      Norris Elementary

      White River Elementary

      White River Middle School