The South Dakota Historical Foundation will host the 2025 Annual History Conference on May 7-9 in Deadwood. The theme of this year’s conference is Historical Mysteries: In Search of the Buried Past. Conference attendees will dive into the history of South Dakota; there will be a tour of Mount Moriah Cemetery, the Days of ’76 Museum, and the City of Deadwood Archives. The conference will also include 10 sessions dedicated to the history of South Dakota. A full list of the sessions can be found on the conference schedule.

Registration includes access to presentations, Thursday lunch and evening social, the Friday awards luncheon, and more. South Dakota teachers are eligible to register at a reduced rate for the conference; they may also be eligible for continuing education contact hours. For more information, and to register, visit the South Dakota Historical Society Foundation’s event webpage.

The Office of Special Education Programs invites special education professionals and school administrators to view this two-hour webinar recording regarding Individualized Education Program (IEP) progress monitoring.

As the U.S. Supreme Court has acknowledged, under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), parents and guardians are given a large measure of participation at every stage of the identification, evaluation, placement, and provision of Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). Experienced school attorney Elena M. Gallegos will discuss the duty of the district to ensure that parents are afforded their rights, and that they are able to fully and meaningfully participate throughout the process. Gallegos will discuss the importance of prior written notice as a tool and provide practical strategies for dealing with breakdowns in the parent-school relationship.

Two continuing education contact hours are available to those who participate. Register online.

This summer, educators in all roles (paras, teachers, specialists, administrators) will have opportunities to study best practices for teaching reading and writing. Steeped in the principles of the Science of Reading, these in-person foundational courses will cover topics such as the five essential literacy skills, strategies for teaching students with reading challenges, explicit instruction, and more.

K-3 Foundational Reading
Madison, May 27-29
Sioux Falls, June 9-11
Chamberlain, July 28-30

4-8 Foundational Reading
Madison, June 16-17
Sioux Falls, June 12-13
Chamberlain, July 31-Aug. 1

Foundational Reading Train the Trainer
This five-day training, divided into two parts, aims to offer comprehensive training that aligns with current DOE literacy initiatives focused on foundational reading and the science of reading research. Participants should have a strong foundation in foundational reading – this course is ideal for literacy coaches, independent education consultants, teacher leaders, literacy teams, and administrators who provide foundational reading professional development to teaching staff.
Sioux Falls, June 18-20; 25-26
Brookings, July 7-9; 21-22

Explicit Instruction
This two-day, in-person workshop emphasizes active learning through sample lessons, discussions, and a focus on explicit instruction techniques, as outlined in Anita Archer and Charles Hughes’ book. The instructors for this course have been trained by Anita Archer herself.
Sioux Falls, July 21-22
Spearfish, July 24-25

Registration for all foundational reading courses is now open. Learn more, and register, via the DOE’s PD platform at sded.sd.gov.

Educators who are interested in using data in education will learn how to engage in comprehensive data analysis for creating improvement plans for their students. The purpose of this course is to introduce educators to the data inquiry process. Participants will learn to collect, analyze, communicate, and use multiple measures of data to improve teaching and learning.

This course includes readings, webinars, and in-person workshops, and culminates in presentations and reflections from participants.

Those who complete the course may receive graduate credit or continuing education contact hours. Those who wish to receive credit must register and pay through the University of South Dakota. The last day to register for credit is June 6. For more information, and to register, visit sded.sd.gov.

Do you feel challenged by what to do when an English Learner (EL) joins your classroom and struggle with how to confidently communicate with families? Do you know what to ask, who to reach out to, and how to create EL accommodations in your class? This engaging presentation, from an EL teacher, will help K-12 educators build relationships and immediately communicate with EL students and their families. You’ll leave this session with strategies to engage and serve EL students and their families. Register online.

The South Dakota Career & Technical Education conference is sponsored by the South Dakota Department of Education (DOE) in cooperation with the South Dakota Association for Career and Technical Education (SDACTE). Each year, the conference provides over 300 teachers, administrators, and school counselors with opportunities to connect with educators and explore best practices that will help them prepare students to be college, career, and life ready.

Attendees may be eligible to earn continuing education contact hours for participation. Visit the DOE’s CTE page, or contact Amy Miller for more information.