• Secretary's Column
• South Dakota Virtual High School opens for business
• Student immunization database available
• Appointments made to state Board of Education
• State board considers high school credit waiver issue
• Nominate an American Star of Teaching
• Program aims to recognize healthy schools
• Seventeen teachers earn prestigious certification
• AP Course Audit now available
• States issue recommendations for NCLB reauthorization
• Upcoming Events

Secretary's Column

Halftime

As you read this column, it is the halfway point of the 2007 legislative session. This year is a 40-day session, and it will be a session that features an animated discussion about education from beginning to end. This is my 4^th session in the Department of Education and this has been, by far, the busiest session thus far. The topic of education surfaced during the campaigns in the fall of 2006, and the conversations have not slowed down since the election in November.

The topics that seem to have the staying power for a 40-day discussion are listed below.

• Formula dollars – South Dakota schools are hoping to see more money in the formula. Both political parties have openly expressed an interest in sending more money to our schools, the questions will be: How much and how will it be packaged?

• Teacher pay – Virtually every state in the union is discussing how teacher pay can be reformed. South Dakota is no different. The Governor has proposed $4 million for a Teacher Compensation Assistance Program. Another proposed bill includes an option for performance pay.

• Education Service Agencies – The federal funds that have been used to support South Dakota’s ESAs have to be returned to their original purpose.  Therefore, general fund dollars must be used to replace those federal funds. A bill to appropriate money for the ESAs is making its way through the legislature. Many legislators seem eager to maintain the ESA program.

• State Aid Study topics – A variety of topics relating to the State Aid Study Task Force are a part of the discussion. Those topics include: sparsity, minimum school size, increasing/decreasing enrollment, other revenue, and facility assistance for low land value districts.

• Technical institute governance – Several bills have been introduced to assist with funding of the technical institutes, along with competing bills on the governance of our four technical institutes.

High school students across the state have a new option for taking coursework: the South Dakota Virtual High School. SDVHS provides a storefront for virtual classes being offered across the state, with the Department of Education approving all providers and courses. The Department of Education is hosting training sessions, via the DDN, for school personnel later this month. Participants will learn the basics of the new system – from when it’s appropriate to use the virtual school to how to register students for classes. 

“The South Dakota Virtual High School will be open for fall 2007 registration on March 15,” said Melody Schopp, who has spearheaded the department’s virtual school efforts. “We’re excited about the possibilities, and we think it will provide a real benefit for school districts and students across the state.”

The South Dakota Virtual High School is online now at www.sdvhs.k12.sd.us. The department invites school personnel to check out the Web site prior to attending one of the one-hour training sessions. Sessions will be offered via DDN at the following times:

• Feb. 26, 1 and 4 p.m. (CST)

• Feb. 27, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. (CST)

• March 1, 1 and 4 p.m. (CST)

According to Schopp, the department approves all courses for the new Virtual High School. That way, school districts, students and parents can be assured that course offerings meet the state’s high academic standards. In addition, the virtual school provides choice and flexibility for students who need additional options – whether it’s a case of credit recovery, a scheduling issue, or a student pursuing additional academic challenge.

Since school districts pay for students to take courses via Virtual High School, registration must go through the home district. Students are not allowed to register on their own. Rather, a designated person at each high school handles student registration. Costs vary depending on the particular provider and course offering.

Student immunization database available

As of March 1, 2007, the South Dakota Department of Health’s Immunization Program will offer access to the South Dakota Immunization Information System to public schools in South Dakota.

The SDIIS is a centralized computer system that allows health care providers to share immunization records. The information shared includes the child’s name, sex, date of birth, social security number (if available) and immunization record. As written in South Dakota’s Codified Law, 34-22-12.5, anyone who fails to protect the confidentiality of the data in the SDIIS is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

School districts interested in obtaining access to the SDIIS should contact Tammy LeBeau, South Dakota Department of Health, at (605) 773-4783 by Feb. 15, 2007.

Appointments made to state Board of Education

In December, Gov. Mike Rounds appointed Don Kirkegaard, Britton, to the South Dakota Board of Education. Kirkegaard, who has been in K-12 education for 25 years, currently serves as superintendent of the Britton-Hecla School District. He is pursuing a doctoral degree from the University of South Dakota. Kirkegaard replaces Jack Broome, superintendent of the Burke and Bonesteel-Fairfax districts.

In October, the governor appointed Patricia Simmons, Sioux Falls, to the Board of Education. Simmons recently completed 14 years serving on the Brandon Valley Board of Education. On that board, she served two years as vice president and seven years as president. During that time, Simmons also served on the board of directors for the Associated School Boards of South Dakota. Simmons is a registered nurse and has worked for 24 years in pediatric hematology-oncology.

Gov. Rounds also reappointed Richard Gowen of Rapid City to the South Dakota Board of Education. Dr. Gowen began serving on the board in 2003. Prior to retiring, he served as the executive director of the Homestake Laboratory Conversion Project. Before that, he served as president of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology from 1986 to 2003, and president of Dakota State University from 1984 to 1986. His experiences include higher education teaching and administration, the formation of K-12 curriculum and standards, space and medical research, leadership service for the engineering and education professions, consultation, and participation on boards in industry and government.

All board members serve four-year terms. To learn more about the Board of Education, visit www.doe.sd.gov/secretary/board.

State board considers high school credit waiver issue

The South Dakota Board of Education heard a proposal to change the Department of Education’s waiver policy for allowing students to take high school courses for credit prior to entering high school.

The proposed change would require districts that apply for a waiver to administer end-of-course exams to prove student competency. The change could be effective as early as spring 2007. If an end-of-course exam is not available from the Department of Education, the district would administer an end-of-course exam approved by the department. (NOTE: Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry end-of-course exams are currently available at the state level.) 

Administrative rules outlining the specifics of the new waiver policy will be brought to the Board of Education’s March meeting. At that meeting, the board also is expected to discuss credit by exam (no coursework involved). 

Nominate an American Star of Teaching

The U.S. Department of Education announces the start of the 2007 American Stars of Teaching nomination process. Nominations are being accepted at http://www.ed.gov/teachers/how/tools/initiative/index.html. The program honors exemplary classroom teachers who are using innovative teaching strategies to improve student achievement and positively shape their school environment.

Every day, America’s teachers extend themselves beyond their classroom doors to meet the needs of all children in their school community. This program provides an opportunity to honor a teacher who has made an impact on students, as well as their school community.

The nomination process will conclude on April 1, at which time a committee of teachers at the U.S. Department of Education will review the nominations and select the 2007 American Stars of Teaching. One teacher from each state and the District of Columbia will be selected. Officials from the U.S. Department of Education will announce the American Stars by visiting the recipients in the fall of 2007.

Program aims to recognize healthy schools

Applications for the 4^th annual Governor’s Healthy School Awards are being accepted. The awards honor schools that have made outstanding efforts to promote the health and well-being of their students and faculty.

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 on the Department of Education’s Web site at http://doe.sd.gov/oess/schoolhealth/onlinedocs/healthyschoolapplication.asp. Requests for applications must be made by public school superintendents, assistant superintendents, principals or assistant principals. The deadline for submitting applications is April 20, 2007. For more information, call the Coordinated School Health Program at (605) 773-3261.

Seventeen teachers earn prestigious certification

Seventeen South Dakota teachers earned National Board Certification in 2006. That brings the total number of National Board Certified teachers employed in South Dakota to 56. The certification is recognized as one of the highest credentials in the teaching profession. 

“National Board Certification is a rigorous process that promotes quality teaching,” said Secretary of Education Rick Melmer. “The teachers who earn it represent our most dedicated and qualified professionals, and the Department of Education is proud to recognize their efforts.”

South Dakota teachers who earned National Board Certification in 2006 are:

• Nancy Cutler, Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood, Groton School District

• Cheryl Erdman, Generalist/Middle Childhood, Hill City School District

• Debra Ford, Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood, Chamberlain School District

• Jolynn Foster, Generalist/Early Childhood, Flandreau School District

• Michael Groher, Generalist/Middle Childhood, Sioux Falls School District

• Rebecca Hanson, Generalist/Early Childhood, Arlington School District

• Sandra Hoffner, English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood, Yankton School District

• Allen Hogie, Mathematics/Adolescence and Young Adulthood, Brandon Valley School District

• Marjorie Kindle, Mathematics/Adolescence and Young Adulthood, Yankton School District

• Amy Knutson, Generalist/Middle Childhood, Sioux Falls School District

• Bernice Krambeck, English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood, Spearfish School District

• Ramona Lundberg, Science/Adolescence and Young Adulthood, Deuel School District

• Sue Morrell, English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood, Wagner Community School District

• Sharon O’Keefe, Library Media/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood, Rapid City Area School District

• Connie Rous, Generalist/Middle Childhood, Shannon County School District

• Debora Swanson, Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood, Chamberlain School District

• Laurie Wenger, Generalist/Middle Childhood, Harrisburg School District

South Dakota public school teachers who earn National Board Certification receive a $1,000 stipend per year for five years from their local school district. The South Dakota Department of Education also provides a $1,000 stipend per year for five years. The money is provided as an incentive for teachers to pursue this advanced degree.

A voluntary process established by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, National Board Certification is achieved through a rigorous, performance-based assessment that takes one to three years to complete and measures what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do.

As part of the process, teachers build a portfolio that includes student work samples, assignments, videotapes and a thorough analysis of their classroom teaching. Additionally, teachers are assessed on their knowledge of the subjects they teach.  

AP Course Audit now available

As scheduled, the Advanced Placement Course Audit process has officially opened. The AP Course Audit provides schools with clear guidelines on the course content and resources typical of college-level classes, and helps colleges and universities better interpret courses marked “AP” on students’ transcripts.

Schools have until June 1, 2007, to submit materials as part of the AP Course Audit. AP teachers can review course audit information and resources available on AP Central at http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/courseaudit. These resources include:    

Schools develop their own curriculum for courses labeled “AP.” The AP Course Audit simply specifies core elements colleges and universities expect to see within the curriculum developed for college-level AP courses.

States issue recommendations for NCLB reauthorization

Five years have passed since President Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act. The law, which calls for 100 percent of students to be proficient in reading and math by 2013-14, is up for reauthorization at the federal level. On Jan. 29, the Council of Chief State School Officers issued recommendations related to the reauthorization. Eight specific policy recommendations address broad issues that states have identified as priority areas for improvement.

“We’ve learned a lot over the past five years. As a nation, we’ve made great strides in improving student achievement, but we know that the law poses certain challenges,” said South Dakota’s Secretary of Education Rick Melmer, who serves as CCSSO’s president-elect. “This is our opportunity to make changes that will further enhance the progress that has been made.”

The eight recommendations are as follows:

Promote Innovative Models and Reinvent Peer Review

Under the current system, states have had little flexibility to develop innovative ways to improve student achievement. CCSSO recommends language changes that promote innovation based on sound educational strategies. The organization also calls for changes to the peer review process that would make it more effective and useful for states.

Improve Accountability Determinations

CCSSO recommends that states be allowed to use growth models, to complement existing status measures, to determine adequate yearly progress. Further, states should be allowed to use relevant data regarding school performance in making AYP determinations.

Differentiate Consequences

Under the current law, districts and schools that do not make AYP face the same consequences, whether they miss performance targets by a large or small amount. Nor does the current system take into account interim progress. CCSSO calls for changes in the law to address these issues.

Improve Assessment Systems

CCSSO recommends amending the law to allow states to promote (but not require) the use of multiple state and local assessments that can improve teaching and result in more reliable determinations.

Properly Include Students with Disabilities

Another frequent criticism of NCLB has been the challenge that districts face in fairly assessing students with disabilities. CCSSO will ask Congress to remove the rigid caps on the testing of special education students and allow states to use alternate/modified achievement standards based on individual growth expectations across grade levels.

Properly Include English Language Learners

When it comes to English language learners, CCSSO is pushing for the use of multiple measures, including alternate assessments, for no less than three years for new immigrant ELL students. Assessments should be administered when the student is ready with a tool that is useful for improving instruction for that student.

Enhance Teacher Quality

CCSSO recommends “counting newly hired teachers as highly qualified when they meet standards in their primary subject areas and are on a pathway (of no more than three years) with regard to additional subjects.” Further, CCSSO says that teachers of students with disabilities and ELL students should be considered highly qualified when they work closely with a classroom teacher who is highly qualified. 

Strengthen Resources

Finally, CCSSO calls for additional funding to address needed actions such as providing technical assistance to underperforming schools and districts and developing state assessment and data systems.

Upcoming Events

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

• View Special Education Data training online

• Training addresses Consolidated Application process

• State Conference for Early Childhood

• DDN sessions cover new social studies standards

View Special Education Data training online

Training addresses Consolidated Application process

The Department of Education encourages districts to attend a Consolidated Application training in February. The sessions, which will be held at several locations, are designed to help districts complete the General Narrative and Needs Assessment sections of the Consolidated Application.

Sessions are scheduled as follows:

• Monday, Feb. 12 -- Sioux Falls Ramkota
• Tuesday, Feb. 13 -- Pierre Ramkota
• Thursday, Feb. 15 -- Rapid City Ramkota

All sessions run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Lunch is provided. (The sessions noted above address the content of the Consolidated Application. Sessions scheduled for April will address the e-grant application process.)

Participants will receive guidance regarding measurable goals and objectives and the alignment of strategies, indicators and funding sources to support those goals. The session also will include discussion of compliance issues related to budget and staffing.

The department recommends that every district send at least one district employee to the training. The training would benefit both the authorized representative and the special education director, due to the collaboration with the special education State Performance Plan. Each person attending the training should register separately. 

State Conference for Early Childhood

“Soaring Over the Rainbow to Early Success” is the theme of the 2007 State Conference for Early Childhood. The conference will take place March 1-3, 2007, in Aberdeen. 

Highlights include:

• Keynote speaker Sharon MacDonald, M.Ed., will demonstrate how to use music and movement to teach children of different abilities, needs and temperaments. Participants will learn how to use inexpensive materials to deal with the often chaotic and confusing classroom, while building confidence, interest and preserving the child’s self-esteem.
• Keynote speaker Jean Feldman has been actively involved in education for more than 35 years. Dr. Feldman is the author of “A Survival Guide for Preschool Teachers,” “Transition Tips and Tricks,” and “Wonderful Rooms Where Children Can Bloom.” Some of her recordings include: “Dr. Jean Sings Silly Songs,” “Dr. Jean and Friends,” and “Kiss Your Brain!”

For an agenda and registration information, go to http://www.sdaeyc.org/ and click on “Conferences.” You can also contact Betsy Pollock, Department of Education, at (605) 773-4640 or betsy.pollock@state.sd.us.

DDN sessions cover new social studies standards

A “roll out” of the state’s new Social Studies Content Standards is slated for March. Training sessions will be offered via the DDN, for the noted grade levels, on the following dates:

• March 5 (grades 3-5), 5-7 p.m. (Central Time)
• March 19 (grades 6-8), 5-7 p.m. (Central Time)
• March 22 (grades 9-12), 5-7 p.m. (Central Time)

Participants will examine the new content standards and discuss possible ideas related to teaching the standards. Teachers who served on the Social Studies Content Standards Revision Committee will lead the sessions. Each session will be two hours in length.