April 30, 2024

NEW: Understanding School Testing and Test Scores

If you have ever attended an IEP meeting for your child, and felt like the information that was being shared was foreign. You may have felt overwhelmed and unable to contribute to the discussion because you were seeing it for the first time at that meeting. If this describes a situation you have found yourself in, this information could help you be better prepared for the next meeting.

Schools collect collect and report data on student academic performance in a variety of ways. Determining eligibility for special education is one process where information is collected and used to understand the learner better. According to the Data Quality Campaign (the nation’s leading voice on education data), states have made remarkable progress in making sure that useful data is collected about student performance and progress on key indicators of school/learning success.

This guide was created by South Dakota Parent Connection to help parents better understand the types of assessments schools give so they can better advocate for their child's needs. Down load your copy from our website HERE.

COMING SOON! Recorded trainings on our website that walk through the information in this guide to help explain what it all means.

WIC Transportation Extended to Rapid City

WIC families can now dial 211 for FREE transportation for WIC-eligible grocery shopping and WIC clinic appointments through October 2024.

WIC-participating families in the Sioux Falls and Rapid City areas have access to free transportation to WIC clinic appointments or grocery shopping using WIC benefits. Car seats are not provided. Dial 211 to schedule 24 hours in advance.

Hand Picked

At South Dakota Parent Connection, parents and professionals contact us to help answer questions they have. Here are some resources picked out by our staff to help answer some of the more commonly asked questions.

Autism Caregiver Training Program

Feeling Overwhelmed with Parenting Demands?

How Taking Care of Yourself Makes You a Better Mom

Help Your Teen Plan a Rewarding Gap Year

Input Needed

The SD Parent Involvement Survey is given to all SD families with children receiving special education and related services. This is your opportunity to provide CONFIDENTIAL input about your local school district's special education program! Survey data will be summarized for the school district and the SD Department of Education to improve services for children and families in your school and across South Dakota. Survey

Upcoming Events

Here is a list of events offered by South Dakota Parent Connection and other organizations to help support South Dakota families. A complete list of events can be found on our website at www.sdparent.org or Facebook page.



• May 2, 2024 6:00 pm-9pm Common Sense Parenting Class Online- May Series - Build your parenting skills with an interactive four-week course.
• May 4, 2024 5:00pm-9:00 PM The Style Show: Runway to Empower- A one of a kind runway experience for everybody.
• May 9, 2024 1pm-2pm Ask JAN! Q&A : Cognitive/ Neurological Team Edition - Job Accommodations Network (JAN) consultants offer one-on-one consultation to help brainstorm accommodation ideas, provide practical guidance for addressing work as a partner in the accommodation process.

This e-publication was developed under grants from the U.S. Department of Education Project Grant H328M2000666 and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Grant H328M140021, Family to Family Health Information Center, $93,175; and approximately 5% financed with non-governmental resources. The contents should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by US Department of Education, HRSA, HHS or the Federal Government.