South Dakota State Scholars

   
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The South Dakota State Scholars Initiative is part of a national program that motivates students to complete a rigorous course of study in high school, with the goal of better preparing them for success in postsecondary education or training, as well as in their future careers.

At the core of SDSS, funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE) and administered by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) and the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in coordination with the South Dakota Department of Education, are state-level partnerships between the business and education communities to encourage middle and high school students to excel academically. When businesspeople visit classrooms to talk to students directly about the importance of taking math, science, language arts, and social studies, and when they discuss how a rigorous education benefits their employees in the workplace every day, they bring home for students the value of a strong education in a real world, bottom-line way. That’s a message all students need to hear, but one that’s especially important for low-income students.

In addition to business leader visits, state scholar students are asked to complete a rigorous curriculum in high school. Partnerships work to motivate students in a variety of ways, including college scholarships and other financial aid. 

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Pilot Schools

Pilot School Representatives.
Click photo for larger image.

In South Dakota, four high schools have agreed to be the initial sites for promoting the business and school partnership in supporting the SD Scholars initiative:

The schools have agreed to support the effort to have every student graduating from that high school complete the most rigorous set of coursework possible. Following the guidelines for the South Dakota Scholars Initiative, the schools will encourage all students to complete the CORE courses specified in the initiative.

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South Dakota Scholars Initiative Program of Study

South Dakota State Scholars must successfully complete these specific core courses in addition to state or local required courses.

Course Credit

English

4

Mathematics  
(algebra I, geometry, algebra II or equivalent integrated mathematics curriculum)

3

Lab Science
(biology, chemistry, physics)

3

Social Studies
(Chosen from U.S. history/1.0, world history/1.0, world geography/1.0, finance/economics/0.5, government/0.5)

3.5

World language
(Two credits of the same language)

2

Career Cluster Interest Coursework (selected by student and intended to broaden their specific career interest)

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ideally,

Students will follow a sequence in considering high school coursework that will keep them engaged in learning, looking toward post high training and supporting career interests and goals.

Sample Program of Study

Grade

Grade 9

Grade 10

Grade 11

Grade 12

 

 

 

 Course

 

 

 

English 1

English 2

English 3

English 4

Physical Sci.

Biology

Chemistry

Physics

Algebra 1

Geometry

Algebra 2

Trigonometry

Geography

American History

World History

American Government

Computers ½

Finance ½

Fine Arts

Elective

Foreign Language

Foreign Language

Elective

Elective

Elective

Elective

Elective

Elective

Total Credits

7

7

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State Scholars Teaching Resources

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Grants and Financial Aid

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Contacts:

For more information about the State Scholars Initiative please contact Richard Deaver at (605) 206-0145 or Mark Wilson at (605) 773-4773.

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The work reported herein was supported under State Scholars Initiative, PR/Award Number V051U050006, as administered by the Office of Vocational and Adult Education, U.S. Department of Education. However, the contents do not necessarily represent the positions or policies of the Office of Vocational and Adult Education or the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.
   

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