A total of 14 21st Century Community Learning Center grants have been awarded to provide funding for academic enrichment opportunities for students. This year’s grant recipients join 24 existing grant recipients to serve a combined total of 54 sites statewide.

DOE is working with Homeland Security and Emergency Management to curate and make available a variety of resources related to school safety. Access these resources via our new School Safety webpage. DOE and the SD Department of Public Safety are also hosting a new, voluntary listserv for personnel involved in school safety issues. Subscription info is available via the K12 Data Center.

SDSU Extension – Team Nutrition is accepting applications for the Smarter Lunchrooms Movement sub-grant. Any South Dakota school district or organization that participates in the National School Lunch program and has a full lunchroom serving students in grades 7-12 is eligible to receive the $1000 sub-grant. Grant applications are due Aug. 11.

DOE’s Title office will host its annual conference Aug. 1-2 in Pierre. This year’s conference will emphasize the nature of current dynamics of schools and afterschool programs, focusing on social and emotional learning. Keynote presenters are Salome Thomas-EL and Steve VanBockern. Find registration information and more on the conference webpage.

Registration is now open for the 2018 Indian Education Summit scheduled for Sept. 23-25 in Pierre. Among special events this year will be a day-long training on implementing the Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings and Standards.

The Legislature’s Extraordinary Cost Fund, or ECF, summer study group meets on Thursday, July 26, in Pierre. An agenda is not yet available. Find documents and audio from the group’s June 13 meeting on the Legislative Research Council’s website. Several school districts shared their perspectives with the committee.

The Teacher Compensation Review Board met June 20 in Pierre. This board was established as part of the Blue Ribbon legislation to regularly review South Dakota’s progress in improving teacher salaries. Find documents and audio from the meeting on the Boards and Commissions website. The group’s next meeting will be Aug. 29.

Curious about when your district is up for an accountability review? The 2018-2023 District Accountability Review Schedule has been posted, along with important information, templates and tools on the Special Education Programs Accountability Process webpage. Questions? Contact April Hodges.

Board of Education Standards
July 16, Pierre

SD-STARS Workshop for new STARS Certified Trainers
July 26, Pierre

CTE Conference
July 29-31, Rapid City

Top 20 Training
July 30-31, Rapid City
Aug. 1-2, Sioux Falls

Behavior De-escalation Training
July 30, Sioux Falls
Aug. 3, Rapid City
Aug. 10, Aberdeen
Aug. 14, Fort Pierre

SD Department of Education Annual Conference
“Well-Rounded Education = Success”
Aug. 1-2, Pierre

Explicit Instruction for K-12 Educators
Aug. 8, 2018-February 2019, online and in-person options, statewide

Interpreting ACCESS for ELLs Score Reports
Sept. 19, Rapid City

Indian Education Summit
Sept. 23-25, Pierre

Northern Plains Law Conference on Students with Disabilities
Sept. 24-26, Rapid City

Annual Community Response to Child Abuse Conference
Oct. 4-5, Sioux Falls

Save the Date: Supporting Early Learners Institute
Oct. 11-12, Sioux Falls