http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/index.asp News from the South Dakota Department of Education en-us South Dakota Department of Education: 2012 state government http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.aspx?id=307 East Middle School science and reading teacher Katie Anderson, of Rapid City, has been selected as the 2013 South Dakota Teacher of the Year. http://www.doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.aspx?id=307 http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.aspx?id=305 South Dakota’s four technical institutes have achieved another enrollment milestone, collectively topping the 6,200 mark this fall for the first time ever. http://www.doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.aspx?id=305 http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.aspx?id=303 South Dakota’s average composite ACT score remains unchanged from last year at 21.8, where it has been for the past three years. The national average was also unchanged from a year ago, sitting at 21.1 as it has for four of the past five years. http://www.doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.aspx?id=303 http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.aspx?id=302 The 2012 Report Card, which details student progress on South Dakota’s state assessment, is now available online. http://www.doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.aspx?id=302 http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.aspx?id=298 The South Dakota Board of Education received updates Monday during its regularly scheduled meeting on two online programs that create rigor and relevance for high school students. http://www.doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.aspx?id=298 http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.aspx?id=297 Once again, South Dakota has received the highest rating possible under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, for fiscal year 2010. http://www.doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.aspx?id=297 http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.aspx?id=296 South Dakota’s waiver for flexibility from key provisions of No Child Left Behind has been approved by the U.S. Department of Education. http://www.doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.aspx?id=296 http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.aspx?id=295 South Dakota has been awarded one of 24 state-level grants from the Institute of Education Sciences. http://www.doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.aspx?id=295 http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.aspx?id=294 The latest information related to South Dakota’s performance on improving the educational outcomes of students with disabilities and providing early intervention services for youngsters who are developmentally delayed is now available. http://www.doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.aspx?id=294 http://www.doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.aspx?id=293 Three new 21st Century Community Learning Center grants will be awarded this year in South Dakota and six other grants will be renewed, Gov. Dennis Daugaard announced today. http://www.doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.aspx?id=293 http://www.doe.sd.gov/octe/SDEPSCoRGrant.aspx Proposals for South Dakota EPSCoR funds are now being accepted. Funds are used to enhance, expand and develop new programs and opportunities in secondary career cluster programs. http://www.doe.sd.gov/octe/SDEPSCoRGrant.aspx http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.aspx?ID=292 Gov. Dennis Daugaard says seven Native American students have been chosen to receive Richard Hagen-Minerva Harvey Memorial Scholarships for the 2012-13 school year. http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.aspx?ID=292 http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.aspx?ID=291 South Dakota eighth-grade students are ahead of their peers when it comes to the latest science scores – which are good, but virtually unchanged – as measured by the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress. http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.aspx?ID=291 http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/educationonline/2012/may/art_4.asp South Dakota’s Office of Indian Education is collaborating with the Smithsonian Institute to compile a collection of historical and cultural resources pertaining to the Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings and Standards. http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/educationonline/2012/may/art_4.asp http://www.doe.sd.gov/pressroom/educationonline/2012/may/art_1.asp The Department of Education has announced the composition of three of the work groups related to House Bill 1234. These work groups include: Teacher Evaluation, Principal Standards and Evaluation, and Local Teacher Reward Plan Advisory Council. http://www.doe.sd.gov/pressroom/educationonline/2012/may/art_1.asp http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/zebra/news/12/apr/art_3.asp LAdditional funds are now available from the U.S. Department of Education to help districts and students offset the costs of Advanced Placement exams. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the funds will cover all AP exams taken by qualifying students in May 2012. http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/zebra/news/12/apr/art_3.asp http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/educationonline/2012/apr/art_secretary.asp Letter from South Dakota Secretary of Education, Dr. Melody Schopp http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/educationonline/2012/apr/art_secretary.asp http://doe.sd.gov/secretary/documents/IitCCFAQs.pdf Get answers to your questions about the Common Core training available through the Investing in Teachers initiative. Training options target teachers of English language arts and math, and begin this summer. http://doe.sd.gov/secretary/documents/IitCCFAQs.pdf http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/educationonline/2012/apr/art_2.asp Beginning in school year 2013-14, South Dakota high school students will have the option of completing a capstone experience or participating in service learning, as part of a short menu of options required for graduation. Is your high school ready? http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/educationonline/2012/apr/art_2.asp http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.aspx?ID=290 The 2011 South Dakota Youth Risk Behavior Survey Report was released today. http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.aspx?ID=290 http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/educationonline/2012/apr/art_4.asp School administrators: If you have an educator who represents South Dakota’s best and brightest, we want to hear from you. http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/educationonline/2012/apr/art_4.asp http://www.doe.sd.gov/NCLB/AMOflexibility.asp South Dakota plans to apply for a One-Year AMO Flexibility Waiver from the U.S. Department of Education. This waiver would apply if the state’s larger ESEA Flexibility Waiver application is not approved. http://www.doe.sd.gov/NCLB/AMOflexibility.asp http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/educationonline/2012/apr/art_2.asp Beginning in school year 2013-14, South Dakota high schools will be required to offer either a Capstone Experience or Service Learning, as part of the state’s minimum graduation requirements. Is your high school ready? http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/educationonline/2012/apr/art_2.asp http://www.doe.sd.gov/secretary/investinginteachers.asp#training TInvesting in Teachers also includes a comprehensive, $8.4 million training effort in four distinct areas. This training will occur over the next three years. http://www.doe.sd.gov/secretary/investinginteachers.asp#training http://www.doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.aspx?ID=289 The March 19, 2012, meeting of the South Dakota Board of Education dealt almost exclusively with the work of the state’s four technical institutes. http://www.doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.aspx?ID=289 http://doe.sd.gov/secretary/iittraining.asp Deadline to register for Common Core Training for Teachers is May 1, 2012. http://doe.sd.gov/secretary/iittraining.asp http://doe.sd.gov/cans/cnr.asp The new meal requirements will raise standards for the first time in fifteen years and will help improve the health and nutrition of nearly 32 million kids that participate in school meal programs every school day. http://doe.sd.gov/cans/cnr.asp http://doe.sd.gov/cans/teamnutrition.asp#minigrants The Amazing Body Exhibit will be available to schools in the 2012 school year from Team Nutrition. Apply for your school or after school program to host this set of interactive learning centers on body organs, nutrition and physical activity. http://doe.sd.gov/cans/teamnutrition.asp#minigrants http://doe.sd.gov/documents/Trooper12.pdf South Dakota high school students will have an opportunity to participate in the first-ever Youth Trooper Academy this summer. To qualify, students must be entering their senior year, be in good academic standing, as well as good physical condition, and must possess a valid driver’s license. http://doe.sd.gov/documents/Trooper12.pdf http://www.doe.sd.gov/secretary/iittraining.asp Through SB 192, the Legislature approved $8.4 million for training related to Common Core and other key education initiatives. Common Core options include training this summer or during the 2012-13 school year. An online option will be available January 2013. http://www.doe.sd.gov/secretary/iittraining.asp http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/zebra/news/12/mar/index.asp Read the newest issue of The Zebra, the monthly online newsletter for South Dakota teachers. Latest news from the Department of Education on events, initiatives and monthly feature on a South Dakota teacher. http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/zebra/news/12/mar/index.asp http://www.doe.sd.gov/index.asp HB 1234 received much debate during the 2012 legislative session. What exactly does the bill do? Go to doe.sd.gov for a quick summary http://www.doe.sd.gov/index.asp The education reform package passed by the 2012 Legislature includes several pieces: HB 1234, which lays the groundwork for a $15 million investment in the teaching profession over the next three years, and SB 192, which provides $8.4 million to fund training related to statewide initiatives such as the Common Core. Another bill, SB 25, allows South Dakota to move forward with developing a new school accountability model. http://www.doe.sd.gov/pressroom/educationonline/2012/mar/index.asp 2012 Legislative summary, PRF database, anti-bullying training http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.asp?ID=286 Fourteen South Dakota libraries were accredited by the South Dakota State Library in 2011, under a new system of tiered accreditation. http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.asp?ID=284 Applications for the next round of 21st Century Community Learning Center, or 21st CCLC, grants are now available online. The centers provide students with academic enrichment opportunities and activities designed to complement the students’ regular school instruction. Grant award amounts range from $50,000 to $150,000 per year, and the life of the grant is five years. http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.asp?ID=283 Two South Dakota high school seniors will have an opportunity to travel to West Virginia for the annual National Youth Science Camp, a residential science education program. http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.asp?ID=282 Fifteen classroom teachers from South Dakota are among nearly 6,200 elementary and secondary school teachers nationwide to achieve National Board Certification in 2011. http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.asp?ID=281 The South Dakota Board of Education approved two new programs at South Dakota’s technical institutes, as well as a facility bonding resolution during a regularly scheduled meeting today in Mitchell. http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.asp?ID=280 High school seniors and college freshmen may now apply for Davis-Bahcall Scholarships. http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.asp?ID=279 More South Dakota students are taking Advanced Placement exams and are performing better on those exams, according to a report recently released by the College Board. http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.asp?ID=278 South Dakota’s 4th grade reading scores on the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress were down slightly from 2009. Scores in other others remained above the national average. http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.asp?ID=277 Ten South Dakota organizations will receive a total of $200,000 to enhance, expand and develop new opportunities in secondary career and technical education. http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.asp?ID=276 Nicole Keegan, a 7th-grade science and social studies teacher at Dakota Middle School, received the surprise of a lifetime today when she was presented with a Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award. http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.asp?ID=275 Mitchell middle-school math teacher Patrick Moller has been selected as the 2012 South Dakota Teacher of the Year. http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.asp?ID=274 American Indian, underrepresented, and economically disadvantaged students from across South Dakota will continue to benefit in future years from more than $30 million in federal matching grants. http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.asp?ID=263 The South Dakota Board of Education approved a new program today that will give students at Southeast Technical Institute in Sioux Falls an opportunity to obtain an associate in applied science degree in Registered Nursing. http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.asp?ID=262 The South Dakota State Library Board approved a plan Monday to evaluate the use of Library Services and Technology Act funds. http://www.doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.asp?ID=260 Once again, South Dakota has received the highest rating possible under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, for both Parts B and C for fiscal year 2009. The state is one of only 20 across the nation to meet the requirements and purposes of IDEA under both Parts B and C, according to information released recently from the U.S. Department of Education. http://www.doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.asp?ID=260 South Dakota schools will be playing by last year’s rules when it comes to the state issuing determinations of adequate yearly progress, or AYP, later this summer. Determination of AYP is an annual process required under No Child Left Behind. http://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/index.asp Seven organizations will receive 21st Century Community Learning Center grants for the first time this year. Another four organizations at the end of their grant cycle had funding renewed. The grants provide funding for academic enrichment opportunities for students. http://www.doe.sd.gov/index.asp Director Stacy Phelps addresses students at the GEAR UP Summer Honors Program. Approximately 280 students are participating in this year’s program, which runs June 5-July 10 in Rapid City. South Dakota’s GEAR UP initiative is designed to increase the number of American Indian students that achieve success in higher education through a rigorous, pre-college enrichment program. http://www.doe.sd.gov/index.asp South Dakota is one of 40 states that have joined together to develop core principles for what are being called “next generation accountability systems.” The shared principles provide broad brushstrokes, but each state will determine the details of its own accountability system. View the nine core principles. http://www.doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.asp?ID=258 Seven Native American students have been chosen to receive Richard Hagen-Minerva Harvey Memorial Scholarships for the 2011-12 school year. http://www.doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.asp?ID=255 South Dakota’s four technical institutes were a focus of the South Dakota Board of Education meeting today at the Sioux Falls Public School District’s Career and Technical Education Academy. http://www.doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.asp?ID=254 St. Joseph’s Indian School in Chamberlain was honored today by the South Dakota Department of Education for winning the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s HealthierUS School Challenge Silver Award. http://www.doe.sd.gov/pressroom/news.asp?ID=253 First Lady Linda Daugaard will celebrate South Dakota Library Week, April 10-16, by visiting several libraries across the state and reading to children.