No Child Left Behind

Definitions

Alternative Certification – an approved alternative program for teacher certification.

Associate Degree – any two year degree from an accredited institution.

Authorizations – coding added to a teaching certificate that authorizes a teacher to teach subjects outside their major (minor level or less).  Also commonly referred to as subject endorsements.

Committee of Practitioners - a committee of practitioners to advise the State in carrying out its responsibilities under Title I funding.  The duties of such committee include a review, before publication, of any proposed or final State rule or regulation pursuant to this title.

Core content – Subjects areas that include the following:  English, reading or language arts, mathematics, science, foreign languages, civics and government, economics, arts (visual arts and music), history, and geography. 

Existing (experienced) teachers – teachers employed in an accredited South Dakota school district on or before the first day of the school year, 2002-2003.  This may also include teachers new to the district, under circumstances when the teacher has previous teaching experience and has only changed employers. 

Full State Certification – the issuance of a teaching certificate to a South Dakota teacher.  This certificate is a document presented by the State of South Dakota that provides official recognition of completion of all necessary preparation requirements and authorizes the holder, for the term specified, to perform education services. Only the following certificate types are eligible for this identification (identified in the lower right hand corner of each teaching certificate):

• One year certificate
• Five year certificate
• Five year limited certificate
• Two year non-renewable certificate
• Advanced Professional
• One year alternative certificate
• Two year non-renewable limited certificate
• Two year limited alternative certificate

HOUSE (High Objective Uniform State standards of Evaluation) Rules - Criteria established by each state to demonstrate competency in each academic subject in which the teacher teaches.  In accordance with section 9101(23)(C)(ii).

LEA (Local Education Agency) -  is a public board of education or other public authority within a State which maintains administrative control of public elementary or secondary schools in a city, county, township, school district, or other political subdivision of a state.

National Board Certification - a professional certification based on the National Board Professional Teaching Standards.  It is a certification used increasingly by states as an option for advanced licensing status.

New to the Profession -  includes all teachers employed for the first time (no previous teaching experience) after the first day of school for the 2002-2003 school year.

Schoolwide Title I Schools – a school that uses Title I funds to benefit all students.

State tests – South Dakota will recognize the PRAXIS II or other state approved tests for the teacher exam, which will be available Fall 2004. The state tests will include subject specific tests for the core content areas as well as other subject areas. 

Targeted assistance schools - Schools selected to receive Title I funds that are ineligible for a schoolwide program or that choose not to operate such a program are targeted assistance schools. These schools provide supplementary services to eligible children identified as having the greatest need for special assistance.