Hot Topics
Nov. 14, 2022
General fund cash balance accountability waiver extended
Last week, the Legislature's Joint Committee on Appropriations accepted the School Finance Accountability Board's recommendation to extend the waiver of the general fund cash balance accountability an additional year. This action extends the waiver through the end of FY 2024.
Nov. 8, 2022
School Nutrition Program equipment grants available
National School Lunch Program equipment grants are now available for school year 2022-23. More than $250,000 in U.S. Department of Agriculture funding was received, which is more than four times the amount typically awarded. Find more information and the application on the Child and Adult Nutrition Services School Nutrition Program webpage under the "Equipment Grants" heading. Applications are due by mail, not email, and must be postmarked by Nov. 30, 2022.
Oct. 27, 2022
Coming in early 2023: SD Educator Certification Portal
The South Dakota Educator Certification Portal will be a one-stop shop for educators and schools that integrates the certification application system with Teacher 411 and the Personnel Record Form. This new system is designed with the user and customer service in mind. More information to come.
Oct. 24, 2022
Nation's Report Card released: South Dakota performing well compared to nation
Results of the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) were released earlier today. While some states experienced double-digit declines in average test scores, South Dakota scores stayed above the national average and experienced less volatility than other states.
Administrators
Nov. 8, 2022
School Nutrition Program equipment grants available
National School Lunch Program equipment grants are now available for school year 2022-23. More than $250,000 in U.S. Department of Agriculture funding was received, which is more than four times the amount typically awarded. Find more information and the application on the Child and Adult Nutrition Services School Nutrition Program webpage under the "Equipment Grants" heading. Applications are due by mail, not email, and must be postmarked by Nov. 30, 2022.
Oct. 27, 2022
Coming in early 2023: SD Educator Certification Portal
The South Dakota Educator Certification Portal will be a one-stop shop for educators and schools that integrates the certification application system with Teacher 411 and the Personnel Record Form. This new system is designed with the user and customer service in mind. More information to come.
Oct. 24, 2022
Nation's Report Card released: South Dakota performing well compared to nation
Results of the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) were released earlier today. While some states experienced double-digit declines in average test scores, South Dakota scores stayed above the national average and experienced less volatility than other states.
Oct. 13, 2022
South Dakota public schools weather pandemic well
The Department of Education published the 2021-22 Report Card today. The online resource provides a wealth of data to help parents, educators, and community and state leaders understand how their public schools perform on select metrics.
Oct. 12, 2022
South Dakota outperforms nation on ACT
South Dakota's graduating class of 2022 earned an average ACT composite score of 21.5, which is above the national average of 19.8 and the highest among neighboring states. Considering the state's public school test-takers only, the average composite score was 21.6. The ACT is used to gain admission into colleges and universities throughout the country and for scholarship consideration.
Teachers
Oct. 27, 2022
Paying for College SD
The online video series, Paying for College SD, teaches prospective college students and their families how to carefully consider their education options and make informed decisions about how to pay for college. It features advice from South Dakotans as well as footage from SD state colleges and universities. This project was produced in partnership with Consumer Credit Counseling Service of the Black Hills, the South Dakota Statewide Family Engagement Center, and the Career Learning Center of the Black Hills, a division of Black Hills Special Services Cooperative through a grant from the South Dakota Community Foundation. Questions? Contact Kelsey Smith.
Oct. 27, 2022
Coming in early 2023: SD Educator Certification Portal
The South Dakota Educator Certification Portal will be a one-stop shop for educators and schools that integrates the certification application system with Teacher 411 and the Personnel Record Form. This new system is designed with the user and customer service in mind. More information to come.
Oct. 13, 2022
Cassels selected as 2023 South Dakota Teacher of the Year
Alyssa Cassels, the 5-12 band director in the Deuel School District, has been named the 2023 South Dakota Teacher of the Year. Secretary of Education Tiffany Sanderson made the announcement this evening at a banquet at the Drifters Event Center in Fort Pierre.
Oct. 7, 2022
Teacher Feature: 2023 SD Teacher of the Year nominees
Meet South Dakota's Regional Teachers of the Year. One of these outstanding educators will be named 2023 State Teacher of the Year on Oct. 13:
- Video: Region #1 - Alyssa Cassels, 5-12 band instructor, Deuel School District
- Video: Region #2 - Deb Jensen, kindergarten, Viborg-Hurley School District
- Video: Region #3 - Loretta Knodel, third grade, Avon School District
- Video: Region #4 - Jennifer Weishaar, first grade, Aberdeen School District
- Video: Region #5 - Jennifer Macziewski, first grade, Rapid City Area Schools
Sept. 22, 2022
DOE launches Good to Great Teachers mentoring program
We are launching Good to Great Teachers, a mentoring program aimed at empowering teachers in years 3-5 of their career by increasing teacher effectiveness and fostering self-efficacy. Experienced educators will guide small cohorts of participants through reflective practices to increase confidence in four key areas: communication skills, reflective practice, classroom management, and student engagement. Teachers who successfully complete the program will earn three graduate credits. Apply by Oct. 7.
Food Service
Nov. 8, 2022
School Nutrition Program equipment grants available
National School Lunch Program equipment grants are now available for school year 2022-23. More than $250,000 in U.S. Department of Agriculture funding was received, which is more than four times the amount typically awarded. Find more information and the application on the Child and Adult Nutrition Services School Nutrition Program webpage under the "Equipment Grants" heading. Applications are due by mail, not email, and must be postmarked by Nov. 30, 2022.
Sept. 22, 2022
Celebrate the 2022 South Dakota Crunch Off
The South Dakota Crunch Off is a statewide event to celebrate local produce and Farm to School by crunching into any South Dakota grown "crunchy" fruit or vegetable. Anyone can participate. Simply register your crunch event and post a photo or video crunching to social media with #SouthDakotaCrunch. South Dakota Crunch Off events may occur anytime between Sept. 26 and Oct. 7, 2022.
Aug. 15, 2022
Temporary flexibility for nonprofit food service account finances
This memo communicates a temporary flexibility for food service finances from School Year (SY) / Program Year (PY) 2021-22 that allows School Nutrition Program (SNP) or Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) operators to apply for a two-year spend down plan if the program operator exceeds a five-month net cash resource limit.
July 18, 2022
School meal applications required for SY 2022-23
Families that may qualify for free or reduced-price school meals will need to submit an application for SY 2022-23. Waivers that allowed schools to serve universal free meals, due to the pandemic, have expired. Schools should communicate early and often with families about the application process.
Counselors
Oct. 31, 2022
South Dakota school counselor resources available
We have posted two new school counselor resources on our School Counseling webpage. More resources will be published in the future. Questions? Contact Andrea Albrecht.
- 14 Tips for New School Counselors: This is a joint document from the South Dakota Department of Education (DOE) and South Dakota School Counselor Association.
- Appropriate Duties within a School Counselor's Role: This best practice guide is for school counselors, administrators, and teachers as they discuss division of duties within a school building. Please note DOE does not mandate appropriate duties for school counselors.
Oct. 31, 2022
UPDATED: South Dakota Hot Careers and related resources
The South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation, Labor Market Information Center, has updated its list of hot careers (high demand-high wage occupations). Related resources are updated as well, including the following:
- Top 30 Hot Careers flyer (30 occupations with the greatest projected demand)
- Occupational Profiles of Hot Careers (descriptions, work interest areas, work values, education and training required, etc.)
- Links to learn more about each Hot Career in the Virtual Labor Market Data System
- Links to Current Job Openings in each Hot Career
- Table of employment and demand data as well as wage estimates on which the Hot Careers are determined
Oct. 27, 2022
Paying for College SD
The online video series, Paying for College SD, teaches prospective college students and their families how to carefully consider their education options and make informed decisions about how to pay for college. It features advice from South Dakotans as well as footage from SD state colleges and universities. This project was produced in partnership with Consumer Credit Counseling Service of the Black Hills, the South Dakota Statewide Family Engagement Center, and the Career Learning Center of the Black Hills, a division of Black Hills Special Services Cooperative through a grant from the South Dakota Community Foundation. Questions? Contact Kelsey Smith.
Oct. 6, 2022
Free, online tutoring available for K-12 students
South Dakota students and families can access a new, online tutoring program, staffed by college students who are preparing to become teachers. The Dakota Dreams Online Tutoring Program offers FREE online tutoring to K-12 students. One-on-one tutoring sessions can help students with their homework, tackle specific trouble areas, and address broader educational concepts. Families must first register their students to access the service.