secretary's column
upcoming events
edCAST
past issues
printable version
main page


Board passes new accountability rules
The South Dakota Board of Education passed the new accountability rules at its meeting last month. The board was able to address two of the three written comments received through the public hearing process – one related to career readiness and the other related to volatility of scores in schools with small student populations.
For more information, click here.



New school year means updates to SDMyLife system
Updated district courses are now listed on SDMyLife.com, the online career development tool provided through the Department of Education. Also, by keeping Infinite Campus data current, you can ensure your SDMyLife student roster is accurate. Encourage school counselors to take a moment to double check the system roster. For more information or assistance, send an email to sdmylife@state.sd.us.

Sign up to receive this newsletter!

Your email:

 
Upcoming Events



IEP Workshops
Aug. 28 – 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.


School Climate Work Group meeting
Sept. 11, Sioux Falls

The School Climate Workgroup will be meeting Tuesday, Sept. 11, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (CT) at the Hilton Garden Inn, Sioux Falls. Stakeholders from throughout South Dakota will meet to discuss and plan activities regarding conditions for learning (school climate) in public schools throughout the State.

Stakeholders will receive information regarding accountability indicators; learn and receive background information from other states regarding school climate, bullying and student health; discuss and develop a Statewide students, parents, teachers and administrators survey to get their perspective on the issues; and discuss strategies for “Conditions for Learning” professional development.

Click here for more information.


Teacher Evaluation Work Group meeting
Sept. 20, Pierre

This will be the third meeting of the Teacher Evaluation Work Group, appointed as part of House Bill 1234. The group's purpose is to provide input in developing the four-tier rating system and evaluation instrument used by districts for teacher evaluation. Click here for more information.


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, go to www.systemschange.midwestmaple.org.


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.