The Department, in collaboration with the ND Veteran's
Affairs County Service offices and the ND Division of Independent
Study, facilitated the presentation of over 200 honorary high school
diplomas to World War II veterans.
During the second year of the biennium, Special Education
personnel collaborated with UND to fund credentialing of 30 Special
Education teachers and created the ND Education Employment Board,
a free website to assist in the recruitment and retention of ND teachers.
This project was funded by a 5-year federal grant.
The Department collaborated with the ND School for the
Deaf and Lake Region State College to develop a program that addresses
a critical shortage of sign language interpreters.
The Adult Education data collection system was updated
allowing documentation of required data from local districts and improving
tracking of GED graduate progress. A new GED online system was developed
to improve electronic scoring and facilitate the 2002 series of GED
tests.
The School Health unit received two grants from the
Center for Disease Control, which was awarded to the Native American
Training Institute for professional development to school staff.
The Department developed a plan to implement a statewide
21st Century Community Learning Centers Program intended to decrease
juvenile delinquency and alcohol, tobacco, and drug use among ND students.
In response to state and federal law regarding development
of a statewide assessment system, the Department developed challenging
content and achievement standards, contracted with CTB/McGraw-Hill
for expertise in test development and administration; aligned testing
tools to the state's content standards, and trained district staff
in state assessment processes.
The Department designed and implemented a web-based
reporting system in response to state law requiring collection and
reporting of all professional development activities administered
by local districts.
The Department has developed new accreditation rules
based on a uniform system of accountability and clearly defined challenging
education standards. Statewide discussions are being held prior to
hearings before the Administrative Rules Committee.
The Department has submitted to USDOE its plan to unify
program administration of six Title programs, based on clearly defined
program goals, performance indicators, and achievement targets. This
will help integrate all components of education, including general
and special education activities.
The Department completed the Online Reporting System
(ORS), including ADM, enabling the collection of data from school
districts to calculate foundation aid payments, and assist in the
school approval and accreditation process. School personnel were trained
in the use of ORS.
The North Dakota K-12 educational technology plan was
rewritten and updated. The plan was accepted by USDOE for the purpose
of qualifying for ESEA Title 2 D technology funds in the amount of
$2.75 million.
A web page was created to list available grants to school
districts from various federal and private sources.
DPI applied for and received a grant of 120 computers
and workstations from the Beaumont foundation. The computers have
been placed in high need school districts.
The Intel Corporation has provided DPI with a training
grant for classroom teachers. DPI coordinated the training with other
agencies involved in technology training.
The elementary and secondary education units were combined
into a new approval and accreditation unit. Procedures, forms, and
deadlines have been unified.
The rewrite of Chapter 15 of NDCC was adopted by the
2001 Legislature. All administrative rules have been reviewed and
rewritten as necessary to fulfill the requirements of the revised
code.
The Department was able to obtain a grant from the National
Assessment of Educational Progress to provide assistance in administration
of the test in local districts.
Department personnel worked with the State fire marshal
and the attorney general in improving communication between agencies
for fire inspections and required follow-up repairs. This cooperative
link improves required follow-up on repairs and school approval issues.
A total of $1.1 million was paid to districts eligible
to receive reorganization bonuses on December 1, 2001. Four reorganizations
included a total of ten school districts.
The Department assisted approximately one third of North
Dakota's school districts in forming joint powers agreements. These
cooperative organizations will help districts in providing a variety
of services not now available.
The Department applied for and received federal funding
for renovation grants to local school districts. The grants enabled
school districts to make much-needed repairs, help meet fire and safety
codes, and to provide up-to-date technology.
Made a majority of the Department's forms and publications
accessible to the school districts and the public on its website.
Created the Online Reporting System (ORS) which enables
the collection of the MIS01 - Fall Report from school systems and
the MIS02 - Fall Report from school buildings.
Rewrote and disseminated the School Accounting manual.
Teacher compensation data was collected and has been
assembled in a database that is available on the web. The data was
collected as a result of the teacher compensation program passed by
the last legislative session.
The Department completed Phase 1 and Phase II of the
child nutrition and food distribution automated computerized reporting
system. The system will allow school districts and other organizations
to draw funds, order commodities, and to file required reports electronically.
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North
Dakota Department of Public Instruction
Dr. Wayne G. Sanstead, State Superintendent
600 E. Boulevard Avenue, Dept. 201
Bismarck, North Dakota 58505-0440
701/328-2260
