The Wessington Springs School District hires teachers that meet the highly qualified status. Parents may request information regarding the professional qualifications of their children’s classroom teachers. The WS School District will provide a response to the parents’ request in a timely manner. A notice will be published in the paper at a later date of teachers not highly qualified in a particular subject area and when and how the qualified status will be obtained.

South Dakota State Law 13-28-7.1.   - Tests and immunizations for communicable diseases required for admission to school or early childhood program--Exceptions--Rules. Any pupil entering school or an early childhood program in this state, shall, prior to admission, be required to present to the appropriate school authorities certification from a licensed physician that the child has received or is in the process of receiving adequate immunization against poliomyelitis, diphtheria, pertussis, rubeola, rubella, mumps, tetanus, and varicella, according to recommendations provided by the Department of Health. The Department of Health may modify or delete any of the required immunizations. As an alternative to the requirement for a physician’s certification, the pupil may present:

(1) Certification from a licensed physician stating the physical condition of the child would be such that immunization would endanger the child’s life or health; or

(2) A written statement signed by one parent or guardian that the child is an adherent to a religious doctrine whose teachings are opposed to such immunization; or

(3) A written statement signed by one parent or guardian requesting that the local health department give the immunization because the parents or guardians lack the means to pay for such immunization.

The Department of Health may promulgate reasonable rules, in accordance with chapter 1-26, to require compliance and documentation of adequate immunization, to define appropriate certification, and to specify standard procedure.

Source: SL 1971, ch 141; SL 1972, ch 97; SL 1978, ch 114; SL 1992, ch 129; SL 2000, ch 83, § 1; SL 2005, ch 101, § 1.

The purpose of this notice is to inform residents of the Wessington Springs School District 36-2 of rights you have as a parent of a minor student or as a student over 18 years old attending Wessington Springs Schools.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.

FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children’s education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level. Students to whom the rights have transferred are “eligible students.”

Parents or eligible students have the right to inspect and review the student’s education records maintained by the school. Schools are not required to provide copies of records unless, for reasons such as great distance, it is impossible for parents or eligible students to review the records. Schools may charge a fee for copies.

Parents or eligible students have the right to request that a school correct records which they believe to be inaccurate or misleading. If the school decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student then has the right to a formal hearing. After the hearing, if the school still decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student has the right to place a statement with the record setting forth his or her view about the contested information.

Generally, schools must have written permission from the parent or eligible student in order to release any information from a student’s education record. However, FERPA allows schools to disclose those records, without consent, to the following parties or under the following conditions (34 CFR § 99.31):

•  School officials with legitimate educational interest;

•  Other schools to which a student is transferring;

•  Specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes;

•  Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student;

•  Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the school;

• Accrediting organizations;

•  To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena;

•  Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies; and

•  State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific State law.

Schools may disclose, without consent, “directory” information such as a student’s name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, honors and awards, and dates of attendance. However, schools must tell parents and eligible students about directory information and allow parents and eligible students a reasonable amount of time to request that the school not disclose directory information about them. Schools must notify parents and eligible students annually of their rights under FERPA. The actual means of notification (special letter, inclusion in a PTA bulletin, student handbook, or newspaper article) is left to the discretion of each school.

For additional information or technical assistance, you may call (202) 260-3887 (voice). Individuals who use TDD may call the Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339. Or you may contact the US Department of Education: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20202-5920

The Wessington Springs School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: 504 Coordinator Donna Wagner, WSHS, 302 Dakota Ave. N., PO Box 449, Wessington Springs, SD 57382, 605-539-9391 and Title IX Coordinator Jason Kolousek, WSHS, 302 Dakota Ave. N., PO Box 449, Wessington Springs, SD 57382, 605-539-9311. Office for Civil Rights U.S. Department of Education, One Petticoat Lane, 1010 Walnut Street, 3rd Floor, Ste 320, Kansas City, MO  64106, Ph# 816-268-0550, Fx# 816-268-0599, TDD# 800-877-8339, Email:  OCR.KansasCity@ed.gov 

Students, their parents and employees of the Wessington Springs School District 36-2 are hereby notified that this school district does not discriminate on the basis of sex, national origin, age, handicap, race or religion in employment practices and educational activities as required by Title IX.  Any person having inquiries concerning the district compliance with Title IX is directed to contact Federal Program Compliance Coordinator and Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Jason Kolousek, Wessington Springs Schools 539-9311, or Regional Director, Dept. of Education, Office of Civil rights, 1961 Stout Street, Denver, CO 80294.

First established by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, the Title I program continues to be the largest federally funded educational program. With a goal of “leveling the playing field,” Title I funds are available to schools with the highest level of poverty, as determined by the percentage of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.

Believing that early intervention will make the most difference for students, the Sioux Falls School District has chosen to focus Title I funds at the elementary level. All Title I schools operate a Schoolwide Program, which means the Title I funds are used to improve the overall educational program for all students, rather than targeting specific students in a Targeted Assistance Program.

What do I know about my child's teacher?

The federal education law put in place by the Elementary & Secondary Education Act (ESEA) requires that all parents in a Title I school be notified and given the opportunity to request information about the professional qualifications of classroom teachers instructing their child. You may request this through the building principal.

The building principal will send a notice to each parent whose child has been assigned or has been taught for 4 or more consecutive weeks by, a teacher who is not highly qualified. This notice will be sent within 10 school days of when the student is assigned, or, in the case of a substitute teacher, by the 5th consecutive week, the substitute is in the classroom.

Wessington Springs Elementary School operates a school wide Title I program.

ESEA Statute (Section 1112)(e)(1)(B)(ii)

Section 1112 (e) covers the Parents Right to Know, which includes the following required notifications to parents:

(1) INFORMATION FOR PARENTS.—

(A)   IN GENERAL.—At the beginning of each school year, a local educational agency that receives funds under this part shall notify the parents of each student attending any school receiving funds under this part that the parents may request, and the agency will provide the parents on request (and in a timely manner), information regarding the professional qualifications of the student’s classroom teachers, including at a minimum, the following:

(i)   Whether the student’s teacher—

(I)   has met State qualification and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction;

(II)   is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which State qualification or licensing criteria have been waived; and

(III)   is teaching in the field of discipline of the certification of the teacher.

(ii)  Whether the child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.

(B)   ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.—In addition to the information that parents may request under subparagraph (A), a school that receives funds under this part shall provide to each individual parent of a child who is a student in such school, with respect to such student—

(i)   information on the level of achievement and academic growth of the student, if applicable and available, on each of the State academic assessments required under this part; and

(ii)  timely notice that the student has been assigned, or has been taught for 4 or more consecutive weeks by, a teacher who does not meet applicable State certification requirements at the grade level and subject area in which the teacher has been assigned.

(2)   TESTING TRANSPARENCY.—

(A)   IN GENERAL.—At the beginning of each school year, a local educational agency that receives funds under this part shall notify the parents of each student attending any school receiving funds under this part that the parents may request, and the local educational agency will provide the parents on request (and in a timely manner), information regarding any State or local educational agency policy regarding student participation in any assessments mandated by section 1111(b)(2) and by the State or local educational agency, which shall include a policy, procedure, or parental right to opt the child out of such assessment, where applicable.

(B)   ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.—Subject to subparagraph(C), each local educational agency that receives funds under this part shall make widely available through public means (including by posting in a clear and easily accessible manner on the local educational agency’s website and, where practicable, on the website of each school served by the local educational agency) for each grade served by the local educational agency, information on each assessment required by the State to comply with section 1111, other assessments required by the State, and where such information is available and feasible to report, assessments required district wide by the local educational agency, including—

(i)   the subject matter assessed;

(ii)  the purpose for which the assessment is designed and used;

(iii)   the source of the requirement for the assessment; and

(iv)   where such information is available—

(I) the amount of time students will spend taking the assessment, and the schedule for the assessment; and

(II) the time and format for disseminating results.

(3)   LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION.—

(A)  NOTICE.—Each local educational agency using funds under this part or title III to provide a language instruction educational program as determined under title III shall, not later than 30 days after the beginning of the school year, inform parents of an English learner identified for participation or participating in such a program.

The district facilitates the enrollment, attendance, and success of children and youth in transitional housing in the Wessington Springs School District.

Funding for these services is provided by a federal grant through the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act. This Act mandates that homeless children and youth must have access to appropriate public education, including preschool, and be given a full opportunity to meet state and local academic achievement standards.

The term "homeless children and youth" is defined by law as individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including those who are sharing the housing of other persons; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or campgrounds; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; are abandoned in hospitals; are awaiting placement in foster care; are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus/train stations or similar settings; and migratory children living in the above circumstances.

Through the grant, referrals are made for assistance with transportation, health care, attendance, school enrollment, early childhood education, special education, referrals to community service agencies, individual services, and the special needs of students.

Students eligible for McKinney services are also provided services through Title I funds.