Upcoming Events

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

• Plan now to attend Indian Education Conference
• Turning would-be dropouts into graduates
• Payne to speak at Head Start Conference

Plan now to attend Indian Education Conference

This year’s Indian Education Conference will take place Sept. 19-21 in Rapid City. All school administrators, board members and teachers are invited to attend. Each year, the conference covers issues related to the education of South Dakota’s Native American youth. Keynote speakers and state and local experts offer perspective, information and ideas. Watch future issues of Education Online for details!

Turning would-be dropouts into graduates

In 2009, South Dakota’s compulsory school attendance age increases from 16 to 18. The Juvenile Justice Symposium III, Sept. 27-28, will offer practical ideas and assistance for professionals who will be helping would-be dropouts become high school graduates. The event will take place at the Ramkota in Pierre.

The theme of this year’s symposium is “Community Partnerships that Keep Kids in School.” Participants will hear from experts in truancy prevention, diversion programs, model court practices, and systems of care that encourage graduation of at-risk youth. Session topics include: “What works with tough kids,” “Implementing compulsory school attendance law – successes and lessons learned,” “Positive behavior interventions and supports,” and more.

The event is convened by the South Dakota Council of Juvenile Services. For information, call South Dakota Voices for Children at (605) 367-9667.

Payne to speak at Head Start Conference

The 2007 Region VIII Head Start Conference, slated for Oct. 17-19 in Rapid City, will feature keynote speaker Ruby K. Payne. Payne, who is an expert on the mindsets of economic classes and on crossing social-economic lines for love, work, education, and social change. She has written and co-authored more than a dozen books, including “A Framework for Understanding Poverty.” Information about the entire conference can be found at www.sdheadstart.org.