Grant to promote rigorous, relevant
curriculum
South Dakota has been awarded a $300,000
grant to implement a State Scholars Initiative. A national
business-education partnership, the State Scholars Initiative is
designed to increase the number of students who take a rigorous
high school curriculum. SSI core classes closely resemble those
required under South Dakota’s new graduation requirements.
“This initiative makes that important
connection between academics and careers,” said Gov. Mike
Rounds. “It helps young people understand the importance of
planning for their future, and it encourages them to take the
rigorous courses they need to be successful as they continue
their education and enter the workforce.” Implementation of a
business-education partnership is part of the governor’s 2010
Education Initiative.
The South Dakota State Chamber of Commerce
and Industry in association with the South Dakota Department of
Education received the grant from the Western Interstate
Commission for Higher Education. Over the next two years, the
partners will collaborate to implement the initiative in four
pilot schools. Each will have a special area of focus.
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Sisseton will
concentrate on health careers.
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Sturgis will
emphasize information technology careers.
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Vermillion
will focus on careers in hospitality and tourism.
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Wagner will
focus on careers in agriculture, food and natural resources.
SSI provides special incentives and support
to help students succeed while pursuing rigorous core course
requirements. It brings business leaders into the classroom to
talk about the real-world value of a challenging curriculum.
Through the program, students develop personal learning plans
based on individual academic and career goals. The initiative
complements the state’s Career Clusters program, aimed at
preparing students for postsecondary education.
“Our schools simply must prepare students
for the workplace of the future. Our students need to be able to
compete with the rest of the world,” said David Owen, president
of the State Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “The more
stringent requirements of the State Scholars program, and those
adopted by the state of South Dakota, are a good step in this
direction.”
South Dakota, Missouri, New Hampshire and
Wyoming were selected to join 20 other states that have
implemented the SSI over the last two years.
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