2012
- Secretary's Column:
Benefits of longitudinal data system exciting
- Board to consider accountability rules
- Limited scholarships available for National Board
- Benchmark assessment pilot to begin in 2012-13
- Project will make Common Core resources easily accessible
- South Dakota gets high marks for special education, early intervention services
- Rule change will delay implementation of new standards for teaching
- School library self-assessment tool gets BOE approval
- Upcoming Events
- Standards-based IEP Trainings
Aug. 13 in Eureka OR Aug. 14 in Eagle Butte
- South Dakota Board of Education meeting
Aug. 23, Pierre
- 9th Annual Indian Education Summit
Sept. 23-25, Chamberlain
- 13th Annual Systems Change Conference
Oct. 10-12, Chamberlain
Secretary's Column:
By Dr. Melody Schopp
Department of Education
Benefits of longitudinal data system exciting
For years we have talked about creating a longitudinal data system for South Dakota. To see that vision becoming a reality with the new SD-STARS (Student Teacher Accountability Reporting System) is extremely exciting.
The purpose of SD-STARS is three-fold: to aid, measure and inform. Through SD-STARS, educators will have the ability to access and use high quality data to aid in informing their instruction. Through SD-STARS, student outcomes will be measured so educators can identify at-risk students, examine achievement gaps, evaluate programs, and so forth. Finally, the data within the system will be used to inform decisions related to systemic change.
Earlier this week, you should have received a newsletter about SD-STARS. An electronic version also is posted at http://doe.sd.gov/ofm/documents/0712_STAR.pdf
I would encourage you to look through this first issue if you have not already done so. I was particularly interested to learn about things other states have done with their LDS systems.
Once SD-STARS is up and running, I am confident that you will be as excited as I am about how educators can use the system to the benefit of our students.
Board to consider accountability rules
Proposed changes to administrative rules covering South Dakota’s accountability system for public schools are now available on the Department of Education’s website. The rules reflect much of the content of the state’s ESEA Flexibility Waiver application, which was approved by the U.S. Department of Education in late June.
The South Dakota Board of Education will hold a special meeting on Thursday, Aug. 23, at 11 a.m. (Central Time) to address the proposed rules. The meeting will be at the MacKay Building, 800 Governors Drive, in Pierre.
Go to http://doe.sd.gov/board/index.aspx to access the board’s agenda, as well as the proposed rule changes. Follow the appropriate links in the right-hand column.
Public comments should be mailed to:
South Dakota Department of Education
Attn: Ferne Haddock
800 Governors Drive
Pierre, SD 57501
An e-mail option also is available at the web link offered above. Material sent by mail or e-mail must reach the Department of Education by Aug. 22, 2012, to be considered.
Limited scholarships available for National Board
Educators interesting in pursuing National Board Certification may apply for one-time scholarships. Administrators: Please share this with teachers you think may be interested.
Due to the availability of federal funds, the South Dakota Department of Education is offering 25 $2,000 scholarships for teachers to pursue full National Board Certification.
The scholarships are for the 2012-13 candidate cycle only. The deadline to apply is Sept. 15, 2012.
“In recent years, state-level support of this program has been cut,” said Secretary of Education Melody Schopp. “Teachers play an absolutely critical role in student learning. Any time we can support their development and commitment to improving their craft, it’s an investment in the future of our students.”
The National Board Certification process requires that teachers provide evidence of analysis and reflection on their teaching practice as it impacts students, as well as their record of working within the whole school community, collaborating with colleagues and stakeholders to impact student achievement, and strengthening family/community partnerships.
Go to https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dDBEZ05tcTJFclFHTF9GSms3LVJ4amc6MQ to fill out a scholarship application for the 2012-13 candidate cycle.
For more information, contact Lanette Johnston at the South Dakota Department of Education, (605) 773-8415.
Benchmark assessment pilot to begin in 2012-13
A small number of districts will participate in a state-run pilot related to online benchmark assessment during the 2012-13 school year.
The purpose of the pilot is to gain practical experience, at the school, district and state levels, related to three critical areas:
1) Delivering benchmark assessments
2) Delivering assessments online
3) Assessing mastery of the Common Core standards
Districts participating in the pilot project will test students in grades 3-8 and 11 in reading and math during four testing windows: September (pre-test), December (interim), March (interim), and May (post-test). The students to be tested on the benchmark assessments will be those students who are required to take the Dakota STEP (with some exceptions). Students will still be required to take the Dakota STEP.
The benchmark assessments will be administered online via the South Dakota Assessment Portal (SDAP). All of the items that make up the tests will be aligned to the Common Core standards.
The experiences of the pilot districts will be used to prepare districts across the state for the assessment challenges and opportunities coming in 2014-15.
For more information, contact Gay Pickner at the South Dakota Department of Education, (605) 773-3247.
Project will make Common Core resources easily accessible
The South Dakota Department of Education has teamed up with counterparts in Michigan to work on a “curriculum curation” project. The end result will be an open-source portal where the states’ teachers can access quality digital resources aligned with Common Core standards.
In South Dakota, TIE has been leading up this work for the department.
This summer, TIE brought together a group of teachers whose task was to “curate” available resources and attach them to a standard. Because Michigan has already done a lot of work in the mathematics area, South Dakota is focusing on English/Language arts resources.
To learn more about this important project, read this article at http://www.convergemag.com/policy/Common-Core-Collaboration-Culls-Content.html that recently appeared in Converge magazine.
South Dakota gets high marks for special education, early intervention services
Once again, South Dakota has received the highest rating possible under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, for fiscal year 2010. South Dakota is one of only 23 states or U.S. territories to meet the requirements and purposes of IDEA under both Parts B and C, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
IDEA Part B monitors the effectiveness of special education services at the preschool and K-12 levels, while Part C refers to the state’s Birth to Three program, which serves younger children and their families.
IDEA requires each state to develop a State Performance Plan that evaluates its efforts to implement the requirements and purposes of IDEA, and describes how the state will improve its implementation.
The Part B State Performance Plan includes baseline data, measurable and rigorous targets, and improvement activities for 20 indicators, such as graduation rate, participation and performance on assessments, and ensuring that complaints are resolved and hearings are adjudicated within required timelines.
The Part C, or Birth to 3, State Performance Plan includes baseline data, measurable and rigorous targets, and improvement activities for 14 indicators, such as ensuring positive outcomes for infants and toddlers with disabilities, timely provision of services, and meeting evaluation timelines.
Nebraska and Wyoming were also among the 23 states that met requirements under both parts of IDEA.
Rule change will delay implementation of new standards for teaching
The South Dakota Board of Education has approved an administrative rule change that would delay a requirement that school districts evaluate teachers based on the standards for teaching approved by the board a year ago.
The delay will give districts until the 2014-2015 school year to align their evaluation instruments to the new standards for teaching (i.e., the Charlotte Danielson Framework for Teaching).
“We are asking for this change due to requests from school leaders,” said Secretary of Education Melody Schopp. “This change will clarify for all those involved that teacher evaluation may be based on existing local standards until the 2014-2015 school year, at which point it must be based on the new standards. The extra time can be used to align evaluation instruments and gain familiarity with the new standards.”
During the 2010 legislative session, lawmakers tasked the Department of Education with establishing standards for teaching in South Dakota. A work group consisting of teachers, education leaders and experts from around the state studied the issue and recommended the Charlotte Danielson Framework for Teaching. The Framework for Teaching consists of four domains broken into 22 indicators of good teaching.
School library self-assessment tool gets BOE approval
The South Dakota Board of Education formally endorsed a self-assessment tool based on the South Dakota School Library Guidelines last month. The South Dakota Library Association and South Dakota State Library Board previously gave it their seal of approval as well.
The South Dakota School Library Guidelines outline the components of an effective 21st century school library and librarian. They describe what is necessary to be exemplary in three specific and distinct areas: Program, Place and Professional.
Based on that model, a task force developed a scale as a self-assessment tool with accompanying instructions and an award application. The task force was comprised of both certified and non-certified school librarians, teachers and administrators, as well as representatives from the South Dakota Library Association, South Dakota State Library, and the Department of Education.
For more information, go to the South Dakota State Library webpage at http://library.sd.gov/ or contact Daria Bossman.
Upcoming Events
- Standards-based IEP Trainings
Aug. 13 in Eureka OR Aug. 14 in Eagle Butte
- South Dakota Board of Education meeting
Aug. 23, Pierre
- 9th Annual Indian Education Summit
Sept. 23-25, Chamberlain
- 13th Annual Systems Change Conference
Oct. 10-12, Chamberlain
Standards-based IEP Trainings
Aug. 13 in Eureka OR Aug. 14 in Eagle Butte
This training will introduce participants to the process of writing standards-based IEPs and provide access to an online tool to assist in goal development. Participants should bring a laptop to use during the training. Go to http://www.doe.sd.gov/onlinecalendar/index.aspx for more information or contact Linda Turner.
South Dakota Board of Education meeting
Aug. 23, Pierre
The South Dakota Board of Education will hold a special meeting on Thursday, Aug. 23, at 11 a.m. (Central Time) to address proposed changes to administrative rules covering South Dakota’s accountability system for public schools.
The public hearing will be held at the MacKay Building, 800 Governors Drive in Pierre.
To access the Board of Education webpage at http://doe.sd.gov/board/index.aspx and follow the appropriate links in the right-hand column.
9th Annual Indian Education Summit
Sept. 23-25, Chamberlain
This year’s Indian Education Summit will be held at the Cedar Shore Resort, located right on the Missouri River near Chamberlain and Oacoma. This event is quickly becoming a staple to bring partners from across South Dakota together to learn and to share ideas and insights to address the educational needs of American Indian students. Many sessions will be geared for K-12; many others will emphasize preschool and higher education strands. Watch indianeducation.sd.gov/summit.aspx for more information.
13th Annual Systems Change Conference
Oct. 10-12, Chamberlain
This year’s Systems Change Conference will be held at the Cedar Shore Resort, located on the Missouri River near Chamberlain and Oacoma. Long regarded as one of the region’s premier professional development events for educators, this event also features the announcement of the South Dakota Teacher of the Year, during a special recognition banquet. Graduate credit and DOE contact hours are available. For more information, or to register, watch www.systemschange.midwestmaple.org.
