Recommended summer reading:
DOE’s new end-of-course exam manual

A new manual describes the process for administration of end-of-course exams in South Dakota. As of July 2007, South Dakota requires end-of-course exams in two instances: 1) when a district has a waiver to offer credit for a high-school level course prior to grade 9, and 2) in the case of a student wanting to test out of a course.

“Basically, districts have two options when it comes to end-of-course exams,” said Stephanie Weideman, director, of the Department of Education’s Office of Curriculum, Technology and Assessment. “They can use an exam developed by the state, or they can choose to create their own exam, which must be approved by the state.”

Currently, the state has exams available in the subject areas noted below. This summer, exams for Spanish I and Computers will be developed as well.

• Algebra I
• Algebra II
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Geography
• Geometry
• Government
• Physical Science
• Physics
• United States History
• World History

For districts that choose to create their own exam, they must follow the “blueprint” established by the Department of Education. Blueprints were developed with the assistance of educators from the various subject areas.

State rules governing end-of-course exams require students to score 85 percent on any end-of-course exam in order to earn high school credit. Those students taking the high-school level course prior to 9th grade will be allowed to take the exam twice. Those students taking the end-of-course exam in a test out situation will be allowed to take the exam only once.

For more information about end-of-course exams, visit http://doe.sd.gov/octa/assessment/EOC/index.asp. Be sure to check out the link to “Frequently Asked Questions.” Or you can contact Carla Leingang, Department of Education, at (605) 773-8196. carla.leingang@state.sd.us.