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SECRETARY’S COLUMN: Still time to fill out the 2020 Census The 2020 U.S. Census will soon come to an end, but there’s still time to make sure everyone gets counted. Educators are uniquely positioned to help ensure that several populations who are historically difficult to count don’t get overlooked.  |
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LEADER FEATURE: Bender offers back-to-school advice Amanda Bender shares useful advice for staff and students navigating this school year and the COVID-19 pandemic. Bender is the president of the South Dakota School Counselor Association and the school counselor at Lead-Deadwood Elementary. |
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September is Suicide Prevention Month Governor Kristi Noem has proclaimed September as Suicide Prevention Month in South Dakota. In the spirit of this recognition, view suicide prevention resources for schools and the statewide, cross-departmental suicide prevention plan, amongst other pertinent items on the South Dakota Suicide Prevention website. |
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No-cost registration available for Community Response to Child Abuse Conference The South Dakota Department of Education is partnering with the Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment to provide no-cost registration opportunities for up to two educators from each school district across the state for the Community Response to Child Abuse Conference Sept. 30-Oct. 1. |
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Board adopts rules changes, begins content standards hearings, raises Praxis cut scores The South Dakota Board of Education Standards adopted several changes to educator certification rules and changes to two Praxis cut scores. The board also held the first of four public hearings on academic content standards in physical education, K-12 educational technology, foundations of career and technical education, and five career clusters at its Sept. 21 meeting. |
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Mitchell School District and Redfield educator receive 2020 Governor’s Awards Congratulations to the Mitchell School District’s Foodservice Department and Redfield High School teacher Karen Schmeiser! They have been presented with 2020 Governor’s Awards for making significant contributions to improving independent living and increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities. |
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Virtual Summit Oct. 7-8: How to Coach Teachers to Teach Almost Anything Principals and instructional coaches, sign up for the Virtual Coaching Summit by Sept. 25. How to Coach Teachers to Teach Almost Anything is a simple, practical plan for knowing how to coach, what to coach, and who to coach on your staff. |
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Submit new course code requests by Oct. 1 Districts may submit a request for a new course code to the Department of Education if a local course does not align to any of the state course descriptions. The request must include the following information: course title, course description, subject/content category, and standards addressed in the course. Approved course codes will be available for use for the following school year. |
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Don’t miss upcoming webinars on Tools for Teachers and Gizmos During these webinars, administrators and teachers will learn about the new formative assessment resources available to all math, ELA, and science teachers who administer the state assessments. Tools for Teachers is an easy-to-use site featuring lessons and strategies to enhance instruction, save time in lesson planning, and boost student learning. Gizmos are online science simulations and case studies. |
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College Readiness Coursework available DOE is once again offering the opportunity for high school seniors to complete College Readiness Coursework. These courses are intended to assist students who need continued support to develop the necessary skills to enroll into credit-bearing coursework after high school. Students who did not meet certain college readiness benchmarks are eligible. Questions? Contact Stephanie Higdon. |
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WIDA eSummit scheduled for Oct. 12-30 The WIDA eSummit is a free virtual learning opportunity for educators in WIDA Consortium states, territories, and federal agencies. The event will be held Oct. 12-30. Each week of the eSummit will have a theme with multiple webinars relating to the weekly topic. |
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211 Helpline Center now available statewide The 211 Helpline Center began offering resources and support in South Dakota in 2001 and as of July 1 is now accessible to all South Dakota residents. Through 211, the Helpline Center staff provide referrals when they are needed most, from basic human needs to disaster support and mental health resources. |
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Upcoming Events A complete listing of events is available at GoSignMeUp. Please note: Due to the fluid nature of COVID-19 concerns, face-to-face meetings are subject to cancelation, postponement, or shifting to an online platform. Confirm with event organizers before making plans to attend.
Webinar for SD educators: Model School Policy on Suicide Prevention
Administrators: Using Tools for Teachers & Gizmos to Strengthen Instruction
Community Response to Child Abuse Conference
Northern Plains Law Conference
DOE/SDSLHA Workshop: Multiple Pathways to Literacy Difficulties: A Longitudinal Perspective
South Dakota Advisory Panel on Children with Disabilities
Board of Education Standards |
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