http://eddataexpress.ed.gov/index.cfm

ED Data Express is a Web site designed to improve the public's ability to access and explore high-value state-level education data collected by the U.S. Department of Education. The site is designed to be interactive and to present the data in a clear, easy-to-use manner, with options to download information into Excel or manipulate the data within the Web site. The site currently includes data from EDFacts, Consolidated State Performance Reports (CSPR), State Accountability Workbooks, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP), the College Board, and the Department's Budget Service office.

The Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program is intended to encourage individuals to enter and continue in the teaching profession. Under this program, if you teach full-time for five complete and consecutive academic years in certain elementary and secondary schools and educational service agencies that serve low-income families, and meet other qualifications, you may be eligible for forgiveness of up to a combined total of $17,500 on your Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans and your Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans.

Institutions that serve students who are neglected or delinquent are institutions qualifying under the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, review the NDTAC Tip Sheet published in December 2013.

State sponsored Regional Data Retreats for Focus and Priority schools will be held in May, June, and July of 2014 in Sioux Falls and Pierre. The exact dates and locations will be posted on the SD DOE calendar of events. These two day retreats will be offered to Focus and Priority schools. These retreats offer schools a dedicated time to look at the four lenses of data: Student Achievement, Professional Practices, Programs & Structures, and Family & Community, and to determine a course of action that will lead to increasing student achievement and academic growth.

Focus and Priority schools that DID NOT attend an off-site, two day data retreat last year must register and attend one of the sessions that will be offered. As part of the updated Flexibility waiver, all schools designated as Focus or Priority must attend an off-site data retreat conducted by a certified facilitator at least once during the school’s designation period. During the other years, schools must have data retreats led by state certified data retreat facilitators. For more information, please contact Betsy Chapman at (605) 773-4712 or email betsy.chapman@state.sd.us.

SD DOE awarded forty three (43) Title I Focus and Priority schools a 1003a School Improvement grant to use for the remainder of the 2013-2014 school year. This was a competitive grant schools could apply for. A committee of SD DOE personnel reviewed the applications. The 1003a Supplemental Award funds will be spent on activities/interventions that align to the Seven Turnaround Principles.

Who are they?

• ELs come from nearly every continent, and represent dozens if not hundreds of countries, including the United States.

• They speak hundreds of languages, dialects and tongues.

• Are likely to be native born rather than to be immigrants or refugees.

• They come from every socioeconomic class within American Society.

• They may or may not have been receiving a formal education in their home country.

• ELs may know some English, or may not.

• ELs enroll throughout the school year and may begin at any proficiency level.

• ELs are not “less smart” than English-speaking students.

• ELs may qualify for multiple services offered by a school district.

Top 5 languages in South Dakota

Currently there are 84 languages reported by school districts in South Dakota.

The top 5 languages:
• Spanish
• German
• Karen Languages
• Siouan Languages
• Nepali


There are roughly 5,000 ELs in the state of South Dakota and the prediction is there will be a 20% increase in the next five years.