2000 Session Laws Chapter 75

ENTITLED, An Act enhance learning in public schools, establish an Office of Education Technology, study the public education workforce, and increase the voting requirement for school district referenda.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:

Section 1. The South Dakota Board of Education and the Department of Education and Cultural Affairs shall work jointly with other state government agencies to ensure that children enter the K-12 education system ready to learn. The board and the department shall jointly work to develop standards and practices that ensure that, by the third grade, all children, to the best of their abilities, have learned fundamental reading, mathematics, language, science, and technology skills that form the foundation for further learning. The board and the department shall work together to develop standards and practices that ensure that, by completion of the twelfth grade, all students, to the best of their abilities, have learned the educational and personal skills that will allow them to enter adulthood as responsible members of society.

Section 2. The Department of Education and Cultural Affairs shall establish the Advanced Reading Enhancement Program to assist and strengthen the teaching and learning of reading in grades one and two. Early intervention reading strategies shall promote growth in word recognition and comprehension through focused reading and writing activities. The department shall develop and provide a comprehensive statewide program that will offer technical assistance to school districts and offer professional development in research-based classroom practices that allow teachers to analyze instruction, assessment, and achievement, and set goals for improvement.

Section 3. The Department of Education and Cultural Affairs shall research and analyze the demographics of South Dakota's public education workforce, with an emphasis on the geographic distribution of K-12 teachers, their years of experience, years until retirement, and their areas of educational expertise. The department shall also research and analyze teacher vacancies by geographic location, areas of expertise, and compensation level.

Section 4. There is hereby established an Office of Educational Technology in the Department of Education and Cultural Affairs. Its exclusive role shall be assisting local school districts in using educational technology. Its purposes shall include researching, analyzing, procuring, and distributing programs and methods using educational technology in South Dakota K-12 schools and classrooms.

Section 5. Pursuant to § 13-1-12.1, the Board of Education shall examine programs that prepare and certify school personnel, identify deficiencies, and establish revised standards designed to deliver more qualified staff to classrooms. The board's review shall identify ways to streamline the alternative certification process whereby persons holding a bachelor's degree or higher can be certified to teach in elementary and secondary schools.

Section 6. The Department of Education and Cultural Affairs, the colleges of education at public universities, and the Board of Education shall jointly examine the teacher preparation and administrator preparation programs at the public universities. They shall file a report by November 15, 2000, and deliver it to the Governor, the Legislature, and the Board of Regents. The report shall describe the programs, explain strengths and deficiencies in the programs, and recommend actions to improve the programs.

Section 7. That § 13-16-6.4 be amended to read as follows:

13-16-6.4. Approval to enter into an agreement or issue capital outlay certificates to which § 13-16-6.3 applies is subject to a referendum if five percent of the registered voters, based upon the total number of registered voters at the last preceding general election, petition, within twenty days thereafter, to have the question of approval or disapproval of the agreement or issue of capital outlay certificates or the lease-purchase agreement placed upon the ballot at the next regular election or at a special election called for that purpose. The business manager shall give notice of the fact that the question will be on the ballot at a regular or special election as provided by law for school elections and prepare official ballots therefor according to the provisions of this Title relating to elections and the issue shall be decided by ~~a majority~~ sixty percent of those voting thereon.

Signed February 28, 2000.