QUICKLINKS

Parent Information

Child Find. The Beresford School District is required by law and conscience to provide appropriate educational opportunities for all children, regardless of their special education needs. In light of this, Superintendent Dustin Degen of the Beresford School District announces that the district is conducting an annual “Child Find” search to identify and evaluate all district children under age 21, who may not be receiving appropriate educational opportunities. Mikala Adams (BES) and Ashley Halvorson (BMS/BHS) of the Beresford School District have been named Child Find Coordinator.

Persons who know of a child in this school district with inappropriate or unserved educational needs may give the child’s name to Mikala Adams (mikala.adams@k12.sd.us) or Ashley Halvorson (Ashley.Halvorson@k12.sd.us). After obtaining parental consent, the district will conduct an evaluation of the child’s needs and determine educational needs. Dr. Degen stresses that parents are not expected to be able to diagnose a child’s difficulty before they ask for help. He also said, “It is the philosophy of the Beresford School District to see that every child, regardless of their special needs, may develop to their fullest potential.”

Assessments. The Beresford School District participates in all assessments required by the State of South Dakota.  The South Dakota assessment system is designed to provide districts, schools, and parents with the information they need to ensure that their students remain on track to reach their goals.  South Dakota public school students participate in annual summative testing in English Language Arts and Mathematics, and the results of these tests are included in the state accountability system.  In addition to annual tests in English Language Arts and Mathematics, South Dakota requires assessment of Science and Writing annually, and provides schools and teachers with resources to utilize other assessments to help identify strengths, and areas for improvement.  To learn more about how the assessment process at the Beresford School District, please visit our Beresford School District Assessment Administration Plan. To see District assessment results, visit our compiled history of assessment results online.

 Department of Education Information.

Special Education. If you would like information on the District's special education services or would like to view a copy of its Comprehensive Plan for Special Education, please stop in the District Office at 301 West Maple. You can also access the District's Comprehensive Plan for Special Education online by finding the year's document in the District's drop-down menu.

Title I School. 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.  If you are interested in this information, you may send your request to the building principal who will provide a timely response.  

Content Standards. "The Beresford School District provides comprehensive and appropriate instruction to all students in grades K-12.  All core subjects are aligned to South Dakota's Content Standards.  Many research-based strategies and a variety of tools, including technology, are used to actively engage students.  All students receive evidence-based core academic instruction and, as appropriate, strategic and intensive intervention supports matched to student needs."

School Parent Engagement Policy. School and parent engagement policies are found online within the Beresford School District's website. For ease of access, the BSD has compiled relevant policy links to this page. Policies that require an annual notice are shared via the following: The District shall give the notices in the manner required by federal and state law. Should federal or state law not specify the manner in which notice is to be given, the District may publish the notice in the legal newspaper, post the notice on the District’s website, or mail the notice through the U.S. Postal Service. The parent or guardian of any student, or an emancipated student enrolled in the District, may opt to receive any notifications or correspondence from the District by electronic mail in lieu of regular mail if the parent, guardian or emancipated student provides to the school an electronic mail address to which the notifications or correspondence are to be sent.

School Parent Compact. School and parent compacts are found online on the Beresford School District's website. For ease of access, the BSD has compiled relevant links to this page. Policies that require an annual notice are shared via the following: The District shall give the notices in the manner required by federal and state law. Should federal or state law not specify the manner in which notice is to be given, the District may publish the notice in the legal newspaper, post the notice on the District’s website, or mail the notice through the U.S. Postal Service. The parent or guardian of any student, or an emancipated student enrolled in the District, may opt to receive any notifications or correspondence from the District by electronic mail in lieu of regular mail if the parent, guardian or emancipated student provides to the school an electronic mail address to which the notifications or correspondence are to be sent.

McKinney-Vento Education of Homeless Children and Youth. Yearly, the Beresford School District's homeless liaison completes and uploads an annual checklist to ensure that all McKinney-Vento requirements are met. The Beresford School District's Board of Education has a student rights policy for students experiencing homelessness. The policy is JFB -Education of Homeless Children. The BSD also has a dispute resolution process/policy. Yearly, the BSD's homeless liaison completes a questionnaire concerning the District's efforts to meet requirements set forth by the McKinney-Vento Act.

Right to Know: Teachers and Paraprofessionals. In the event that a non-highly qualified educator is working with children (Title IA) for four consecutive weeks, the BSD will notify parents via written communications through mail, newspaper, or student handbooks. Shared information will meet the following requirements from Title I Part A, (Section 1112)(e)(1)(B)(ii): 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). The information must include, 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. Parents may also request 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 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 or licensure requirements at the grade level and subject area in which the teacher has been assigned.