Priority School Interventions

“SouthDakota will implement effective dramatic, systemic change in thelowest-performing schools by publicly identifying “Priority Schools” andensuring that each LEA with one or more of these schools implements, for three yearsmeaningful interventions aligned with the turnaround principles in each ofthese schools”(pg. 54 Approved Flexibility waiver).

• Districts with 50% or more of theirschools designated as Priority will have a technical advisor appointed by SDDOE, assigned to them to assist with governance issues. In addition 20% oftheir Title I Part A funds must be designated for Priority SchoolInterventions.
• Districts with Priority Schools will berequired to implement the Academy of Pacesetting Districts within the firstyear of being identified.*
• Priority Schools will implement SD LEAP(Indistar) through the Academy experience. The teams will be trained during thekickoff meeting to use the District Set of indicators. In year two the team will work on the school turnaround set ofindicators in SD LEAP at the school level.
• Priority Schools will conduct aComprehensive Needs Assessment led by approved personnel. *
• Priority schools will be required toredesign the school day, week or year to include additional time for meaningfulstudent learning and teacher collaboration.
• Priority Schools will be required toimplement the Multi-tiered System of Support (South Dakota RtI)*
• Districts must review to performance ofthe current principal and either replace the principal or demonstrate to theSEA that the current principal has a track record in improving achievement andhas the ability to lead the turnaround effort.
• Districts must provide the principalwith operational flexibility in the areas of scheduling, staff, curriculum andbudgeting.
• The District must provide adequateresources (human, physical, and fiscal) to assist in the implementation andachievement of school program goals.
• The District must provide professionaldevelopment opportunities specific to prioritized needs as identified in thecomprehensive needs assessment
• The District must inform the district’sboard of education and the public on the school’s progress towards achievingadequate progress and student achievement.
• The School must ensure that theinstructional program is research based, rigorous and aligned with the commoncore state standards.
• Ensure through the teacher evaluationprocess that teachers are effective and able to improve instruction. Based onthe teacher evaluation process the principal will 1. Review the quality of allstaff and retain only those who are determined to be effective and have theability to be successful in the turnaround effort, 2. Prevent ineffectiveteachers from transferring to these Priority Schools, 3.Provide job embedded ongoingprofessional development informed by the teacher evaluation and support systemsand tied to teacher and student needs.
• The School must provide opportunitiesfor parent and community involvement in the decision making process regardingcurriculum, assessment, reporting, and school environment.

These meaningful interventions aligned to the federal turnaround principles will be implemented in all identified Priority Schools beginning in the fall of the 2012-2013school year. All interventions are thoughtfully wrapped around a central theme of developing teams at both the district and school level which, when effectively implemented, purposed, organized and supervised will provide aninfrastructure for continuous improvement. 


Our Priority Schools Are As Follows:

Alternative School
Batesland School
Rockyford Lower School
Rockyford Upper School
Wolf Creek Lower School
Wolf Creek Upper School