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In The Moment ... English Language Learners In South Dakota

Lori Walsh
Demi Moon

In The Moment ... June 28, 2017 Show 124 Hour 2

Under the Every Student Succeeds Act, states must create an indicator of English Language Proficiency for k-12 students. More than 80 different languages are spoken in homes across South Dakota. Some school districts have very few English language learners, but in districts like Huron, nearly 1 in 4 students speak a language other than English at home. And as the population of Sioux Falls grows and diversifies, the need for resources increases.

Demi Moon is the Director of Federal Programs and Assessment for the Sioux Falls School District. She has also worked with English as a Second Language programs in both Huron and Sioux Falls. Demi joins us in the studio to discuss the need for English language learning programs in South Dakota, and how the state's ESSA plan might help.

Cataracts affects nearly 70,000 South Dakotans. Cloudy vision impacts our emotional and lifestyle well being. Dr. John Berdahl is an ophthalmologist at Vance Thompson Vision. June is Cataract Awareness Month. Dr. Berdahl spoke with SDPB's Cara Hetland.

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Credit SDPB

Dakota Political Junkies Jon Hunter and Roger Whittle join us for our weekly panel discussion on state politics. Today we talk about the departure of state Rep. Don Haggar as he takes a job with Americans for Prosperity. We also discuss early foundations of the 2018 campaign for governor as candidates begin to reveal their strategies.

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Chris is a producer for In the Moment.