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star imageSouth Dakota State Profile
Lead Agency and Contact

Marcia Hess SD Department of Labor, AEL Program 700 Governors Drive
Pierre, SD 57501
Phone: 605-773-5821
Fax: 605-773-6184
Marcia.Hess@state.sd.us

Professional Development System

The South Dakota Department of Labor has oversight and coordination of the professional development system for South Dakota Adult Education and Literacy (AEL).

The leadership activities are guided by the professional development priorities in the Workforce Investment Act. The State Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) Administrator and local program directors plan professional development activities based on Federal requirements and needs assessments.

STAR Pilot

In South Dakota, all 13 fully funded AEL programs participate in the STAR pilot, including:
  • a technical institute,
  • school districts,
  • career learning centers,
  • the Women's Prison, and
  • an immigration/refugee program.
This involves thirteen directors and thirty instructors. Most of the STAR teachers have not had formal training in teaching reading. Therefore, the state's adult reading specialist provided Level I Reading training, introducing fundamental reading components prior to the STAR Pilot.

Programs Implementing STAR
  • Southeast Technical Institute
    Sioux Falls, SD

  • Meade School District
    Sturgis, SD

  • Aberdeen Area Career Planning Center
    Aberdeen, SD

  • Brookings Career Learning Center
    Brookings, SD

  • Career Learning Center of the Black Hills
    Rapid City, SD

  • Cornerstones Career Learning Center, Inc.
    Huron, SD

  • Madison Career Learning Center
    Brookings, SD

  • Southeast Job Link
    Vermillion, SD

  • The Right Turn, Inc.
    Pierre, SD

  • Volunteers of America, Dakotas
    Sioux Falls, SD

  • Watertown Career Learning Center
    Watertown, SD

  • South Dakota Women's Prison
    Pierre, SD

  • Lutheran Social Services Refugee & Immigration Center
    Sioux Falls, SD