Progress Reports

Goal 2:  By 2010, South Dakota will be first in the nation for the percentage of students going on to college, technical school, or advanced training.

Objective 2A: Graduate 95 percent of high school students.

Initiatives:

1. Require compulsory attendance to age 18.

	Develop and propose legislation for compulsory attendance to age 18.
	Develop conference to study needs and models for alternative instruction.
	Explore options for alternative education.
	Deliver alternative education conference.

Staff:  Wade Pogany, Mark Wilson, Rick Melmer, Office of the Governor

2. Implement Personal Learning Plans for students.

	Develop turn-key model for high school/middle school programs.
	Provide training to schools interested in implementing model.
	Provide training in Guidance Central software.
	Implement Teachers As Advisors model.

Staff: Steve Rounds, Mark Wilson, Office of Career and Technical Education

3. Create Senior Project models.

	Develop turn-key model for high school/middle school programs.
	Provide training to schools interested in implementing model.

Staff: Mark Wilson, Office of Career and Technical Education

4. Implement Youth Internship Programs.

	Develop turn-key model for high school/middle school programs.
	Provide training to schools interested in implementing model.
	Create workplace learning programs.

Staff:  Mark Wilson, Office of Career and Technical Education

5. Increase use of advanced placement/dual credit courses.

	AP/dual credit project team determines strategies to increase the number of students in AP and dual credit courses.
	Apply for AP/IP grant funds.
	Expand dual enrollment opportunities with technical institutes.
	Seek National Math and Science Institute grant to increase number of students taking math and science AP courses.

Staff: Wade Pogany, Michelle Mehlberg, Mark Wilson

6. Create State Scholars Program that connects schools to businesses.

	Identify team for creating state scholars program.
	Research program.
	Create South Dakota model for program.
	Develop State Scholars pilot program.
	Initiate enrollment of students into program fall 07.
	Make connections with business and industry leaders.

Staff: Mark Wilson, OCTE staff

Objective 2B: Enroll 75 percent of high school students in the “advanced” or “distinguished” graduation path.

Initiatives:

7. Implement rigorous graduation requirements.

	Develop graduation rules.
	South Dakota Board of Education approves new graduation requirements.
	Work with schools to implement new requirements.
	Monitor the number of students choosing advanced and distinguished courses of study.
	Provide professional development for teachers in core subject areas specific to content standards.
	Develop college readiness benchmarks for post-secondary preparation.

Wade Pogany, Office of Curriculum, Technology and Assessment

8. Create end-of-course exams and grade level tests.

	Organize teacher teams to write course exams.
	Project teams created for math.
	Project team for reading/communication arts.
	Project team for science.
	Coordinate project teams with Board of Regents.
	Contract for development of course exams and study of validity and reliability of the assessment.
	Develop benchmark tests for each grade beginning with early literacy and numeracy grades progressing to grades K-8.
	Deliver assessments online through Scantron Achievement testing program.

Staff:  Stephanie Weideman, Michelle Mehlberg, Office of Curriculum, Technology and Assessment

9. Monitor student enrollment in South Dakota postsecondary universities and technical institutions by creating a tracking process using unique student identifiers.

	Develop plan with Board of Regents to establish framework of option to meet objective.
	Develop plan with technical institutes to establish framework of option to meet objective.
	Apply for federal grant to create a longitudinal data system.

Staff: Judy Merriman and Board of Regents

Objective 2C: Increase 21^st century skills using advanced technology to enhance learning.

Initiatives:

10. Create a statewide virtual high school program.

	Select team to research options for virtual school.
	Research models for virtual school.
	Develop administrative rules that approve distance education providers and courses accepted by South Dakota schools using virtual courses.
	South Dakota Board of Education adopts rules for distance learning.
	Determine legislation necessary to make distance learning courses available to South Dakota students.
	Contract for delivery of virtual classes.
	Expand CTE distance education courses.
	Pursue funding for a Virtual High School marketing campaign.

Staff: Melody Schopp, Wade Pogany, Technology and Innovations in Education, Office of Curriculum, Technology and Assessment, State Board of Education.

11. Implement One to One laptop initiative for high school students

	Select pilot schools for Phase 1 implementation.
	Select vendor to supply laptops and tablets for pilot project.
	Department of Education negotiates reduced pricing options for lap- top computers and instructional software licenses.
	Department of Education hosts seminars for schools interested in initiating laptop program.
	Develop and implement professional development training for teachers, administrators and technology coordinators for pilot – summer 2006.
	Evaluate pilot project.
	Establish goals for Phase 2 to include all schools interested in implementing a one to one initiative.
	Select and implement year two laptop schools.
	Expand professional development opportunities.

Staff: Wade Pogany, BIT, Dakota State University, Technology and Innovations in Education