http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2007/09/19/news/top/doc46f1efc537ab5335219499.txt
South Dakota is one of only 10 states without legislation permitting charter schools. A group of Rapid City Native Americans who are interested in starting a charter school have asked Sen. Tom Katus to sponsor charter school legislation. Members of the group believe the current education system is not working for Native American students. Daphne Richards-Cook, a member of the Rapid City School Board, met with the group and said she is concerned about the drop-out rate and disparity in the achievement gap separating Native American and other students. The school district's graduation rate for Native American students was just 37 percent last year. The district is making progress in addressing these issues, but it is taking only "baby steps," said Richards-Cook. The draft legislation that Katus is considering would require teachers to meet all state certification standards, with charters granted by the local school board or through the state Board of Education.
Source: The Rapid City Journal
Date: 09/19/2007
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