Gov. Mike Rounds recently announced the appointment of 14
individuals to the Teacher Compensation Assistance Program
Advisory Council. His appointments include four superintendents,
six teachers, one co-op director, and three other education
advocates.
“We started the TCAP program two years ago as a first step
toward enhancing teacher salaries in South Dakota,” Gov. Rounds
said. “At the legislature’s request, this group will take the
process a step further by examining teacher salary issues
in-depth and making recommendations as to how future state funds
can be best used in this arena.”
The TCAP Advisory Council was established by Senate Bill 187
during the 2008 legislative session. In addition to the 14
members appointed by the governor, both the Senate and House
were required to appoint three members each.
“The members we’ve appointed represent a cross-section of the
education world – large schools, small schools, East River, West
River, elementary and high school,” said Gov. Rounds. “I am very
pleased that these educators and education advocates have agreed
to serve on the advisory council.”
An initial meeting of the TCAP Advisory Council has been
scheduled for May 28 in Pierre.
In order to meet federal reporting
requirements for highly qualified teachers, each South Dakota
public school district should review its data on the Personnel
Record Form, or PRF, prior to June 30. Data from this database
is used in running calculations for the annual State Report Card
required under No Child Left Behind.
Prior to the deadline, districts should log into the PRF system
and run two highly qualified reports: one for general education
teachers and one for special education teachers. This is your
opportunity to ensure that the information in the system is
accurate. Districts should also pay special attention to staff
members who are on a Plan of Intent. Any progress made on a Plan
of Intent during the course of the school year should be
indicated accordingly. Any necessary action on the part of
teachers should be communicated directly to them.
The PRF will close on June 30. At that time, any staff noted as
not having completed their Plan of Intent (or otherwise noted as
not being HQ) will be counted as such on your district’s 2008
Report Card.
Questions regarding this reporting process can be directed to
Lanette Johnston at (605) 773-8415.
lanette.johnston@state.sd.us.
Next year will be a busy one for National
Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP, activities. South
Dakota students in grades 4 and 8 – about 18,000 students – will
take a reading, math or science assessment during the 2008-09
school year. The assessment window is Jan. 26-March 6, 2009.
“All public school districts will be involved in some manner in
NAEP next year,” said Jan Martin, the state NAEP director.
“Districts can expect to receive notification this May as to
which schools will be included in the state sample.”
Also new in ’09 is the addition of a NAEP pilot study in grade
12. South Dakota was one of 11 states chosen to participate.
Twelfth-grade students will take a reading or math assessment.
This will be the first time that 12th grade results will be
available at the state level. Approximately 6,000 South Dakota
12th graders are expected to be part of the state sample.
Commonly referred to as the “Nation’s Report Card,” NAEP
assesses what America’s students know and can do in various
subject areas.
For more information, contact Jan Martin, Department of
Education, at (605) 773-3246.
jan.martin@state.sd.us.
Teacher Leadership Conference:
Focus on rookie teachers
South
Dakota’s newest teachers will be the stars at the 2008 Governor
Rounds’ Teacher Leadership Conference. In the weeks ahead,
first- and second-year teachers will receive an invitation to
attend the Oct. 5-7 event in Pierre. Teachers must have the
permission of their principal and superintendent to attend.
This year’s Teacher Leadership Conference is designed to support
new teachers on the road to becoming accomplished professionals.
Sessions will cover a range of topics pertinent to new teachers.
Veteran South Dakota educators will facilitate.
There is no cost to attend the event, and lodging and meals will
be provided during the conference. However, mileage and other
travel expenses must be covered by the local school district.
With the new focus of the Teacher Leadership Conference, the
department will no longer host the Governor’s New Teacher
Academies in the summer.
For more information about this year’s TCL, visit
http://doe.sd.gov/conferences/TLC/index.asp.
Nominate teachers for Dakota STEP work groups
Throughout the year, the Department of Education hosts work
groups responsible for addressing issues related to the state’s
assessment system. The U.S. Department of Education has directed
South Dakota to develop more diverse work groups to address the
state’s assessment system. Teachers from various grade levels,
along with special education teachers and teachers of English
language learners, are needed to serve on these work groups.
Participants will help to shape the future of South Dakota’s
standards and assessment system, and the state, as a whole, will
benefit from the expertise of these professionals. Please
consider nominating teachers from your district to participate
in this important process.
The Department of Education will reimburse participants for
mileage, meals and lodging (state rate) and will pay a stipend
of $125 per day (8 hours of work). We also will reimburse the
school district $70 per day for substitute pay if the work
groups meet during the school year.
Below is a list of work groups that will convene to help create
the 2009 Dakota STEP and Dakota STEP-Alternate Assessment. For
each teacher you nominate, you will need to complete an online
nomination form.
Once the work groups have been selected, the department will
e-mail the selected teachers with details. Questions regarding
this process can be directed to Gay Pickner, Department of
Education, at (605) 773-3247.
Gay.Pickner@state.sd.us.
July 15-16
Dakota STEP Reading, Math, Science Item Data Review
Sioux Falls, Ramada Hotel
These teachers will need to have knowledge of reading, math
and/or science at the appropriate grade levels (3-8 and 11). The
purpose of Item Data Review is to review each item’s field test
statistics, looking for defects that might cause the item to
have inappropriate difficulty (too hard or too easy), to be
non-discriminating, to display model misfit, or to be
differentially difficult for some demographic group(s) of
interest. The committee will recommend whether items are
eligible for inclusion in future revisions of the operational
test.
July 16-17
Dakota STEP Science Bias and Content Review
Sioux Falls, Ramada Hotel
These teachers will need to have knowledge in science at the
appropriate grade levels (5, 8 and 11). The purpose of Item
Content Review is to review the instructional match and
appropriateness of each item with the content standard and
cognitive complexity it is intended to measure. The purpose
of Bias and Sensitivity Review is to identify and eliminate
bias from items and to ensure that items are sensitive to
the diverse circumstances of all students. Needed: Teachers
at grades 5, 8 and 11, teachers of English language
learners, and special education teachers.
July 15-18
Dakota STEP Math Bias and Content Review
Sioux Falls, Ramada Hotel
These teachers will need to have knowledge in math
at the appropriate grade levels (3-8 and 11). The
purpose of Item Content Review is to review the
instructional match and appropriateness of each item
with the content standard and cognitive complexity it is
intended to measure. The purpose of Bias and Sensitivity
Review is to identify and eliminate bias from items and
to ensure that items are sensitive to the diverse
circumstances of all students. Needed: Teachers at
grades 3-8 and 11, teachers of English language
learners, and special education teachers.
July 15-17
Dakota STEP-Alt Reading Content and Bias and
Sensitivity Review
Sioux Falls, TBA
--Grades 3- 5: July 15 all day and end around noon
July 16
--Grades 6-8 and 11: Begin 1 p.m. July 16 and end on
July 17
These teachers will need to have knowledge in
reading at the appropriate grade levels (3-8 and
11). The purpose of Item Content Review is to review
the instructional match and appropriateness of each
item with the content standard and cognitive
complexity it is intended to measure. The purpose of
Bias and Sensitivity Review is to identify and
eliminate bias from items and to ensure that items
are sensitive to the diverse circumstances of all
students. Needed: Special education teachers at
grades 3-8 and 11, teachers of English language
learners, and general education teachers.
July 15-17
Dakota STEP-Alt Math/Science Content and Bias
and Sensitivity Review
Sioux Falls, TBA
--Grades 3-8 math and Grade 5 science: July 15
all day
--Grades 8 and 11 science: July 16 all day and
end around noon on July 17
These teachers will need to have knowledge in
math at the appropriate grade levels (3-8) and
science at the appropriate grade levels (5, 8
and 11). The purpose of Item Content Review is
to review the instructional match and
appropriateness of each item with the content
standard and cognitive complexity it is intended
to measure. The purpose of Bias and Sensitivity
Review is to identify and eliminate bias from
items and to ensure that items are sensitive to
the diverse circumstances of all students.
Needed: Special education teachers at grades 5,
8 and 11, teachers of English language learners,
and general education teachers.
Aug. 4-7
Dakota STEP Reading Bias and Content Review
Pierre, Ramkota Hotel
These teachers will need to have
knowledge in reading at the appropriate
grade levels (3-8 and 11). The purpose of
Item Content Review is to review the
instructional match and appropriateness of
each item with the content standard and
cognitive complexity it is intended to
measure. The purpose of Bias and Sensitivity
Review is to identify and eliminate bias
from items and to ensure that items are
sensitive to the diverse circumstances of
all students. Needed: Teachers at grades 3-8
and 11, teachers of English language
learners, and special education teachers.
Sept. 16
Dakota STEP Science Alignment
Sioux Falls, Ramada Hotel
These teachers will need to have
knowledge in science at the appropriate
grade levels (5, 8 and 11). They will
judge the extent that the assessment
items or tasks align with a set of
content standards in both content and
cognitive level and classify items into
performance-level categories to provide
an examination of the degree to which
the assessment has sufficient breadth to
cover the performance-level
expectations. Needed: Teachers at grades
5, 8 and 11, teachers of English
language learners, and special education
teachers.
Sept. 16-17
Dakota STEP Math Alignment
Sioux Falls, Ramada Hotel
--Grade 11 teachers will only
meet Sept. 16
These teachers will need to have
knowledge in math at the appropriate
grade levels (3-8 and 11). They will
judge the extent that the assessment
items or tasks align with a set of
content standards in both content
and cognitive level and classify
items into performance-level
categories to provide an examination
of the degree to which the
assessment has sufficient breadth to
cover the performance-level
expectations. Needed: Teachers at
grades 3-8 and 11, teachers of
English language learners, and
special education teachers.
Sept. 16-19
Dakota STEP Reading Alignment
Sioux Falls, Ramada Hotel
--Grade 11 teachers will
only meet Sept. 16-17
These teachers will need to have
knowledge in reading at the
appropriate grade levels (3-8
and 11). They will judge the
extent that the assessment items
or tasks align with a set of
content standards in both
content and cognitive level and
classify items into
performance-level categories to
provide an examination of the
degree to which the assessment
has sufficient breadth to cover
the performance-level
expectations. Needed: Teachers
at grades 3-8 and 11, teachers
of English language learners,
and special education teachers.
Teachers
needed for alignment studySeventy-two
educators are needed to assist in determining the level of
alignment between South Dakota’s English language proficiency
standards and academic content standards. The alignment study
will take place June 3-4 in Sioux Falls. The alignment work is
required under Title III of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 2001 (No Child Left Behind).
Both content and classroom teachers, along with LEP/ESL teachers
are needed. Teachers should have experience working with
language minority students and an understanding of content and
English language proficiency standards. Participants will
receive a daily stipend of $125 in addition to mileage, lodging
and meals at state rates.
The Department of Education asks administrators to consider
submitting names of teachers who meet the above requirements and
would have an interest in the activity.
Click here to access the nomination form. Forms are due May
12.
Curriculum mapping software available at reduced rate
Once again, South Dakota schools have access to TechPaths at a
reduced rate, thanks to a contract negotiated by the Department
of Education. TechPaths is a powerful, user-friendly tool for
aligning standards with curriculum maps. Through the contract,
the Department of Education pays pay two-thirds of the cost of
the software for one year, and districts pay one-third
(approximately $14) per user.
The TechPaths system utilizes exclusive templates – embedded in
the software – for the design of lessons, assessments and units.
This provides searchable libraries of maps and the associated
curriculum design work.
To take advantage of this opportunity, please visit the
curriculum mapping Web page at
http://doe.sd.gov/octa/mapping/index.asp. Here, you will
find a wealth of information about curriculum mapping as well as
a downloadable Memorandum of Understanding valid July 1, 2008,
through June 30, 2009.
Prior to accessing the software, the district must sign the MOU
and send two copies to:
Phyllis Tomkiewicz
South Dakota Department of Education
700 Governors Drive
Pierre, SD 57501
Questions regarding TechPaths can be directed to Mark
Heilemann, Department of Education, at (605) 280-3612 or
mark.heilmann@state.sd.us.
Nominate
outstanding CTE programs for state recognition
Each year, outstanding career and technical education programs
are recognized with State Director’s Awards. Nominations for the
2008 State Director’s Awards are currently being accepted by the
Department of Education.
Programs selected for recognition must display the following
characteristics:
- Have rigorous, relevant course offerings
- Be student-focused
- Address the needs of diverse populations
- Have community support
School administrators are asked to consider nominating one or
more CTE programs. A nomination form is available online at
www.doe.sd.gov/octe.
Nominations are due by May 31. The State Director’s Awards will
be presented at the annual Career and Technical Education
Conference in Pierre.
Recommended summer reading:
DOE’s new end-of-course exam manual
A new manual describes the process for administration of
end-of-course exams in South Dakota. As of July 2007, South
Dakota requires end-of-course exams in two instances: 1)
when a district has a waiver to offer credit for a
high-school level course prior to grade 9, and 2) in the
case of a student wanting to test out of a course.
“Basically, districts have two options when it comes to
end-of-course exams,” said Stephanie Weideman, director, of
the Department of Education’s Office of Curriculum,
Technology and Assessment. “They can use an exam developed
by the state, or they can choose to create their own exam,
which must be approved by the state.”
Currently, the state has exams available in the subject
areas noted below. This summer, exams for Spanish I and
Computers will be developed as well.
- Algebra I
- Algebra II
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Geography
- Geometry
- Government
- Physical Science
- Physics
- United States History
- World History
For districts that choose to create their own exam,
they must follow the “blueprint” established by the
Department of Education. Blueprints were developed with
the assistance of educators from the various subject
areas.
State rules governing end-of-course exams require
students to score 85 percent on any end-of-course exam
in order to earn high school credit. Those students
taking the high-school level course prior to 9th grade
will be allowed to take the exam twice. Those students
taking the end-of-course exam in a test out situation
will be allowed to take the exam only once.
For more information about end-of-course exams, visit
http://doe.sd.gov/octa/assessment/EOC/index.asp. Be
sure to check out the link to “Frequently Asked
Questions.” Or you can contact Carla Leingang,
Department of Education, at (605) 773-8196.
carla.leingang@state.sd.us.
Upcoming Events
For a more complete list of professional development
opportunities, visit
www.southdakotapd.com.
Training addresses WIDA ACCESS
Placement Test
A training set for May 13 will address the basics of
the WIDA English language proficiency standards. Participants
also will learn how to administer the WIDA ACCESS Placement Test
for grades K-12, and how to use the results to make ELL
placement and service decisions.
The training will take place at University Center in Sioux Falls
(282). The program will be accessible via DDN sites in Aberdeen
(NSU Library 117), Pierre (State Capitol A) and Rapid City (SDSM&T
CB109). The training will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Presenters include Jesse Markow and Andrea Oliver of the WIDA
Consortium.
To register, go to
www.southdakotapd.com and click on May 13. Questions can be
directed to Dr. Sara Waring, Department of Education, at (605)
280-7286 or
sara.waring@state.sd.us.
Substance abuse training
available in two locations
LifeSkills is a highly effective substance abuse prevention
program. Trainings will be offered at the following locations:
Sioux Falls, May 27-28, and Aberdeen, Aug. 12-13.
Teachers, school counselors, prevention advocates, safe and
drug-free school coordinators and school nurses are invited to
attend. The cost of the training is $20 per participant, and
graduate/undergraduate credit hours will be available.
LifeSkills training is sponsored by the South Dakota Departments
of Education and Health, Department of Human Services, Human
Service Agency, and Volunteers of America.
Save the date for Section 504
training
Registration for a special training, “Section 504: The Other
Service Option for Students with Disabilities,” is now open at
www.southdakotapd.com.
The training will cover many of the issues in the Section 504
process. School staff, administrators, counselors, school nurses
and Section 504 coordinators are invited to the June 19
event in Pierre. Continuing education credits will be offered.
Find your balance as a leader:
New event targets school administrators
School leaders are stretched in a hundred different
directions. The new Balanced Leadership Academy will help
frazzled superintendents and principals find their balance! The
first session begins June 23-27 in Sioux Falls.
The Balanced Leadership Academy, which includes five sessions,
is based on McRel’s 21 key leadership responsibilities. School
administrators will leave the program with the skills of knowing
how to lead, why leadership is so important, and when it’s
critical to provide effective leadership.
This academy is a joint effort of the School Administrators of
South Dakota, South Dakota Department of Education, McRel, and
North Central Comprehensive Center.
For more information,
click
here.
Joint conference addresses
special education transition
The Department of Education’s Special Education Programs and
Transition Services Liaison Project will hold a joint conference
June 23-27 in Pierre. The two groups plan to hold the
event annually to address commonly asked questions and to
provide in-depth transition training for secondary teachers.
Participants will have the opportunity to learn new information,
discuss what is happening in the world of special education, and
network with others who share the same passion for education.
Graduate credit hours will be available. For information, e-mail
Bev.Petersen@state.sd.us.
21st Century Community Learning
Center Conference:
Headliners to include children’s literacy specialist,
game expert
The 2008 21st Century Community Learning Center Conference is
scheduled for July 7-8 at the Ramkota RiverCentre in
Pierre.
Keynote speakers include Dr. Keith Polette, who is the director
of English education at the University of Texas at El Paso. With
23 years of experience as a practicing educator, Keith will
present cutting-edge strategies that bring the magic of teaching
reading and writing to life. Erik Szabo is the president and
founder of Board Games Express, the world’s largest specialty
board game store. Known to many as “The Game Guy,” Erik travels
the country showing child care providers and educators how to
“do games” better.
The conference is free to 21st CCLC directors, staff and
volunteers. For others, there is a $50 registration fee. One CEU
credit is available, and college credit is being explored.
For more information,
click here
or contact Sue Burgard, Department of Education, at (605)
773-5238.
Parent involvement topic of
conference
Parents often wonder how they can become more involved in
their children’s schooling. A FREE conference slated for Aug.
15-16 in Sioux Falls will help them find meaningful ways to
do just that. The conference is hosted by the South Dakota
Department of Education and South Dakota Parent Information and
Resource Center. It will be held at the Downtown Holiday Inn.
The conference theme is “Partnerships with Families Create
Success: Make This the Best School Year Ever!” Karen Mapp,
author of “Beyond the Bake Sale,” will offer a keynote
presentation. South Dakota’s Secretary of Education Rick Melmer
also will address the group.
School leaders are asked to share this information with
parent-teacher groups, school boards and interested parents.
For information about the conference,
click here
and check back frequently for updates. Questions can be directed
to Dawn Smith, Department of Education, at (605) 773-2535.
Presenters wanted for 2008 South
Dakota Interchange
The 2008 South Dakota Interchange will take place Sept.
24-25 at the Sioux Falls Convention Center.
Infinite Campus is issuing a call for presenters to share their
experiences and expertise as an Interchange session leader (and
get cool stuff). Presenters will demonstrate ways in which their
district uses Campus to solve real-world challenges on a daily
basis. To submit a proposal,
complete this form. Questions can be directed to Barry
Brahier at
barry.brahier@infinitecampus.com.
Registration and session descriptions will be available at a
later date.
