OST Programs care for school-age children in a variety of settings while parents are working or in school themselves.  In addition to training events, technical assistance and on-going support is available for OST programs in 11 counties in Region 1 and 14 counties in Region 2. 

• On-site technical assistance is available on issues such as children’s behavior, staffing challenges, program planning, licensing and financial management
• Telephone consultations are available for OST professionals, school officials and parents
• A resource lending library is available with professional resources, information, publications, and theme units/equipment for OST programming
• OST classes or workshops on issues such as discipline, program activities, child temperament, safety, space limitations, communication and team building

Early Childhood Connections offers OST training that is part of Child Care Services' (CCS) "Move to Quality" Initiative.  We feel that consistent high-quality training yields higher quality staff along with better staff retention, which results in higher quality programs. 

The regional Early Childhood & School-Age Enrichment (ECSE) offices provide OST Core Module training, OST Certificate Series training and OST Credential training as part of South Dakota's "Move to Quality" Initiative. 

• The OST Core Module training consists of 10 modules (each module is 1½  hours) which meet most of the licensing requirements for OST staff. 

• The OST Certificate Series training consists of 4 series, with 6 modules in each series (each module is 2.5 hours). The South Dakota Department of Education has approved the Certificate Series training for Teacher Renewal CEUs. 

Participants that complete the 15 hours of OST Core Module training plus the 60 hours of OST Certificate Series training may earn the South Dakota OST Certificate.

• An additional 45 hours of OST Credential training has been developed. The initial 30 hours of this OST Credential training consists of 12 modules divided into 2 series (each module is 2.5 hours).  This training, combined with the Core and Certificate training will provide OST program staff the opportunity to earn a school-age "Credential" similar to the national CDA credential for staff who work with infants, toddlers and preschool age children.
• The initial 30 hours of this training has been approved by the South Dakota Department of Education for Teacher Renewal CEUs.  The entire 45 hours has been approved by BHSU for college credit.  Students must choose whether to apply for CEUs or college credit.  They cannot be awarded concurrently.

For more information about the specific requirements for completing the OST Credentialing process contact the OST Specialist.

Staff earning the South Dakota OST Credential will be on Level III of the SD Pathways to Professional Development System

For More Information and OST Links Click Here

Contact the OST Specialist at ECC