Teach SD, Apr. 30, 2025

Apr. 30, 2025

DOE’s GED program offers opportunities for high school students

The GED credential can be a viable option – allowing the holder to move towards their goals and build a future with career options that will last a lifetime.

“This Place Matters” 2025 student essay contest winners announced

Three South Dakota fourth graders have been named winners of the South Dakota State Historical Society Historical Preservation Office’s annual Fourth Grade Student Essay Contest.

image of items included in the culinary kit

Farm to School Kits available for K-5 classrooms

Culinary kits for K-5 classrooms focus on hands-on learning about making healthy choices with local foods.

May 2 is School Lunch Hero Day

This Friday, make sure your school’s lunch staff feels appreciated for all they do.

Science assessment review opportunity available for teachers

Science educators are invited to be a part of the Science Content Item Review with the Department of Education’s assessment team.

Board of Education Standards approves content standards

The South Dakota Board of Education Standards has approved content standards for English Language Arts, Computer Science, and the Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings. The newly adopted standards can be found on the Department of Education’s Content Standards webpage.

The Teacher Feature highlights two teachers this month: Jordan Fast and Nancy Block are the 2025 South Dakota History Teachers of the Year. Read more about why they love teaching history, and the ways they make it engaging for their students.

Jordan Fast
High School Government and History
Sioux Valley School District

Nancy Block
Fourth Grade
Webster Area School District

This section highlights upcoming professional development opportunities offered by the Department of Education. For a full list of trainings, visit SD DOE's professional development platform at sded.sd.gov.

SPED Legal Webinar 3: IEP Progress Monitoring

Online, self-paced

Under IDEA, the Individual Education Program (IEP) is the roadmap. Drafting a legally sound IEP is step one in ensuring a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). Implementing the IEP with fidelity is step two. Timely and meaningful progress reporting is step three. In this two-hour webinar, experienced attorney Elena Gallegos will discuss the importance of IEP implementation and progress reporting. Ms. Gallegos will explain how to effectively monitor student progress, and provide practical tips for when a student is not making progress.