Mark Winegar, Ed.D.
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mark4ed.bsky.social
Mark Winegar, Ed.D.
@mark4ed.bsky.social
My objective is to help improve public education and resist school vouchers.
The South Dakota House of Representatives will be voting on a bill to require posting and teaching Ten Commandments in every K-12 classroom in the state.
What do you think about this?
February 9, 2025 at 5:18 PM
It’s been a great week for VHS basketball. Our women’s varsity team beat undefeated Sioux Falls Christian. Then the men’s varsity team came from behind to beat Groton. Hooray Tanagers!
February 9, 2025 at 5:07 PM
February 9, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Reposted by Mark Winegar, Ed.D.
The same folks telling you vouchers will work now were the same folks telling you they’d work a decade ago too.

They were wrong then and they’ll be wrong again.

The difference is just that now we won’t know—because the new voucher bills avoid the scrutiny of past oversight.
February 5, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Reposted by Mark Winegar, Ed.D.
New: Dozens of Head Start programs have been waiting a week for federal reimbursements that typically arrive overnight. Some may shut down if the funds don’t arrive soon, leaving thousands of children in the lurch. www.edweek.org/policy-polit...
Dozens of Head Start Programs Still Aren't Receiving Promised Federal Funds
Some providers of pre-K and child care have waited more than a week for federal reimbursements that typically arrive in 24 hours.
www.edweek.org
February 5, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Larson's Legislative Update (1/17)
YouTube video by asbsdorg
youtu.be
January 20, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Reposted by Mark Winegar, Ed.D.
“I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality, and freedom for their spirits." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

May we all embody that spirit and hold tight to our compassion.

#MLKDay
January 19, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Flexibility fuels surge in alternative schooling, while critics point to lack of accountability southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/01/10/h...
Flexibility fuels surge in alternative schooling, while critics point to lack of accountability • South Dakota Searchlight
Alternative instruction and homeschooling in South Dakota nearly tripled over the last decade from 3,933 students in 2014 to 11,489 in 2014.
southdakotasearchlight.com
January 12, 2025 at 8:16 PM
‘Big gray area’: SD authorities fear alternative instruction means ‘no-schooling’ for some students southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/01/10/s...
‘Big gray area’: SD authorities fear alternative instruction means ‘no-schooling’ for some students • South Dakota Searchlight
Truancy data has led critics to suspect some families who say they’re enrolled in alternative instruction are not educating their kids.
southdakotasearchlight.com
January 12, 2025 at 8:16 PM
@joshcowenmsu.bsky.social I enjoyed watching you on C-SPAN today. Please keep up the good work.
January 12, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Reposted by Mark Winegar, Ed.D.
How much do vouchers cost public schools? A new report from EPI's @hilwething.bsky.social examines the hidden costs of vouchers.

She finds that public school students will bear the cost of children participating in voucher programs.

#EduSky #EconSky

www.epi.org/publication/...
How vouchers harm public schools: Calculating the cost of voucher programs to public school districts
Overview What this report is about Voucher programs for schools are rapidly expanding across the country. Under these programs, public budgets provide funding to parents to either send their children ...
www.epi.org
January 8, 2025 at 6:55 PM
They falsely claim relocation of school funds won’t have a negative impact on public schools. Okay, Pinocchio! Why is your nose growing?

www.kotatv.com/2025/01/09/s...
South Dakota lawmakers introducing bill to fund homeschooling and private education
House Bill 1020, if passed, could provide $3,000 in funds to each accepted student.
www.kotatv.com
January 9, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Reposted by Mark Winegar, Ed.D.
School Nurses are much more than Band-aids & boo boos. Our work transforms health & education equity. Read more in my interview with EdSurge. #schoolnursing #Healthequity www.edsurge.com/news/2024-11...
This School Nurse Explains How Her Work Goes Beyond ‘Band-Aids, Boo-Boos and Head Lice’ - EdSurge News
“School nursing is an opportunity to meet families where they are and help them get the care that they need.”
www.edsurge.com
January 5, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Reposted by Mark Winegar, Ed.D.
A new Calif law requires teaching students about fake news and critical thinking starting this fall:

calmatters.org/education/k-...
Recognizing fake news now a required subject in California schools
In addition to identifying fake news, students will learn other media literacy skills, such as thinking critically about internet content.
calmatters.org
January 4, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Reposted by Mark Winegar, Ed.D.
💡 Mistakes are part of learning, and AI is no exception.

Like Ted says, “Be a goldfish.”

How do you help your students bounce back from mistakes while exploring new tools?

#EdTechCruise
January 5, 2025 at 8:50 PM
I’m returning to my Alma mater after 25 years to teach a course in lifespan development.
January 4, 2025 at 4:59 PM
“In Teachers We Trust” is an outstanding guide to teaching like Finnish teachers. Why? Because Finland’s students have out performed their international peers for decades. Our district is gradually adopting many of these methods with very positive results.
January 1, 2025 at 10:26 PM
This book describes the Finnish culture which we would do well to emulate.
December 31, 2024 at 12:39 AM
Reposted by Mark Winegar, Ed.D.
South Dakotans for preservation of public education: The divergence of South Dakota taxpayer dollars into private, alternative instruction (home school) or for-profit institutions undermines Article VIII of the South Dakota Constitution.
www.plaintalk.net/local_news/o...
Voucher Programs Divert Resources From Public Schools
Dear South Dakotans,
www.plaintalk.net
November 29, 2024 at 11:50 PM
Reposted by Mark Winegar, Ed.D.
"A $4 million proposal by South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem to help students enroll in private school and other forms of alternative instruction would undermine public education by diverting state money to unaccountable entities, opponents say."
Noem proposes school choice program to ‘prioritize education.’ Critics say it’ll undermine it. • South Dakota Searchlight
A $4 million proposal by Gov. Kristi Noem to help students enroll in private school and other forms of alternative instruction would undermine public education, opponents say.
buff.ly
December 5, 2024 at 9:36 AM
Reposted by Mark Winegar, Ed.D.
Our shared public dollars should support South Dakota public school students, not private institutions. True educational opportunity does not come from a program that takes public money to support schools that can discriminate and indoctrinate. 6/6
December 16, 2024 at 10:28 PM
Reposted by Mark Winegar, Ed.D.
RM Scott on re-election to serve as Ranking Member of the 119th Congress: “Regardless of which political party is in charge, my mission is unchanged: building an America where everyone can succeed.”
December 18, 2024 at 7:10 PM
Reposted by Mark Winegar, Ed.D.
School buildings are crumbling all over the country and Republicans are wasting their time with culture wars. Watch as
@repbonamici.bsky.social puts student safety over political games.

youtu.be/_msUBC5sXk8
Democrats Focus on Student Needs
YouTube video by Committee on Education & the Workforce Democrats
youtu.be
December 4, 2024 at 6:59 PM