Transcript requirement deferred by Board of Education; not needed for this spring’s graduates

An administrative rule that would have required high schools to verify that each senior had completed all sections of the grade 11 Dakota STEP test before issuing a diploma has been put on hold by the South Dakota Board of Education.  The action means that schools will not have to screen transcripts this spring before issuing diplomas to this spring’s 2004 graduates.

The action was taken at the board’s January meeting in Pierre. The rule was originally enacted by the board in April, 2003, and became effective on January 1, 2004, in time for spring graduation ceremonies. Reconsideration of the requirement was recommended by the Department of Education.  The deferment gives the board time to study further concerns expressed by school districts about uniform implementation and exceptions created by student transfers.

The rule was promulgated by the board in an effort to assure that grade 11 students put forth their best efforts on the required state assessment.  The board’s action was prompted by concerns and complaints from schools that lackadaisical attitudes toward the test on the part of some grade 11 students were jeopardizing some schools’ rankings in the state’s new accountability system.

Deferral of the rule means that schools do not have to take actions to implement the rule at this time.  No notation of completion of the Dakota STEP assessment needs to be on seniors’ transcripts this spring.