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New Director of Assessment and Accountability on board
The Department of Education is excited to welcome its newest division director to the table. Abby Javurek-Humig took over the helm as Director of the Division of Assessment and Accountability last month. Javurek-Humig is a Pierre native, moving back to South Dakota from New Mexico, where she worked in postsecondary education.



Three South Dakota elementaries earn Blue Ribbon status
Congratulations to Groton Area Elementary, Parker Elementary and Wall Elementary! Those three schools recently earned Blue Ribbon status under a U.S. Department of Education program.
Click here to learn more.

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Upcoming Events



Education Reform Advisory Council meeting
Oct. 9, Pierre

The group will meet beginning at 10 a.m. Central in the MacKay Building, and the meeting is expected to continue throughout the day. The group’s purpose is to advise on implementation of House Bill 1234 and examine initiatives for increased teacher compensation, areas of critical need, and improving student achievement. Click here for more information.


IEP Workshops
Oct. 10 – Nov. 29, Various locations statewide

The IEP workshop will take you through all the essentials needed to provide students with a program that results in educational benefit. Workshops run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in their respective time zones and six contact hours will be offered. Presenters will cover all areas of special education, from referral to placement to IEP development. This interactive workshop will help you analyze data and write appropriate IEPs for students with varying disabilities. Registration is limited to 50 participants at each site. Click here for registration and a complete list of dates and locations.


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, go to systemschange.midwestmaple.org.


Local Teacher Reward Plan Advisory Council
POSTPONED

This will be the fourth meeting of the Local Teacher Reward Plan Advisory Council, appointed as part of House Bill 1234, and the meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the MacKay Building. The group's purpose is to provide input in developing local district teacher reward plans. Click here for more information.


School library self-assessment tool training webinar
Oct. 10-12, Chamberlain

A self-assessment tool, based on the South Dakota School Library Guidelines, was recently endorsed by the South Dakota Board of Education. It is accompanied by instructions and an award application. Professional development on the use of the self-assessment tool and further information about the 21st Century School Library Award process will be presented via webinar on Oct. 25 at 4 p.m. CT. Click here for details and registration information.

For copies of the documents, go to library.sd.gov or contact school library coordinators Mary G. Johnson or Joan Upell at 800-423-6665.


5th Annual Parent Conference
Oct. 27, Rapid City

This year’s Learning Starts at Home Conference for Parents will take place in Rapid City. The conference is free to attend, but preregistration is requested. Co-sponsored by the South Dakota Department of Education and the Parent Information Resource Network, the event provides parents and educators with resources to help reach their children and foster student learning. Click here for more information.