Learning Power is a program for engaging high school students in online Advanced Placement (AP) courses in mathematics, science, and English. Courses are taught by South Dakota teachers.  Students may earn $100 cash awards for scores of 3 or higher on College Board end-of-course exams. Funded in part by the National Math and Science Initiative, Learning Power is supported by a group of business, industry, and education partners from across the state. NSU’s e-Learning Center provides courses, South Dakota’s DOE makes courses available through the Virtual School, and TIE administers the program.

Project PRIME (Promoting Reflective Inquiry in Mathematics Education) is a five-year, targeted Mathematics and Science Partnership (MSP) project aimed at improving the academic achievement of all students in the Rapid City Area Schools.

Thinkfinity is a partnership between Verizon and leading educational organizations that produces quality, standards-based, commercial-free Internet content for the K-12 classroom, accessible through seven discipline-specific educational web sites.

Classroom Connections is part of Governor Rounds’ 2010 Education Initiative.  The goal of the initiative is to support one-to-one laptop programs for high school students.  Currently, teachers and students in forty-one high schools across the state are participating in the project.  The overall goal of the project is for educators and students to use one-to-one technology to increase student learning of core subjects, to advance 21st Century literacy/content, to improve thinking and learning skills, and to differentiate instruction, curriculum and assessment.

Dakota Character is a comprehensive K-12 school improvement process serving twenty-five school districts in ESA 5, 6 & 7.  Dakota Character will provide schools with a framework to reduce discipline problems, improve academic achievement and help students develop positive character traits.   Dakota Character will support schools and communities as they teach and demonstrate core ethical concepts, such as civics; citizenship; justice; responsibility; and respect themselves and others.

SSOC annually recognizes outstanding schools and districts within South Dakota to identify those deserving to serve as models for others seeking to improve their character education efforts.  TIE, acting as the South Dakota  sponsor will send the state’s best applicants on to the National Schools of Character com­petition.  Since 1998, CEP has annually recognized approximately 10 public and private schools and districts (K–12) as National Schools of Character. Winners of the national award receive a grant of up to $10,000 to enhance their work in character education and to share their expertise with others. The purpose of both the National and State Schools of Char­acter awards is to identify, honor, and showcase exemplars in character education and facilitate their leadership in mentor­ing others.

The purpose of Dakota ASSETS is to recruit, prepare, certify, support, and retain candidates to fill teaching positions in high need schools in South Dakota.  Scholarships are available to qualified candidates to help pay for tuition, transportation, childcare, and living needs.