Office of Accreditation & Teacher Quality

A: At their November 15, 2004 meeting the State Board of Education approved the recommended graduation requirements, but chose to delay implementation of the new standards until 2006. Ninth graders entering high school in the fall of 2006 (graduates of 2010) will be the first class affected by the new requirements.

2. The administrative rules talk about all students being required to take the “Advanced” level of study, but if the school and parents agree that it is in the best interest of the student to take the “Standard” curriculum they may opt for this course of study instead. Does this mean all students must register for classes in the advanced course of study, but may choose to take the standard path if there is a conscious decision with the parents?

A: Yes, state law SDCL 13-33-19 requires all students to complete the recommended high school program, called the “Advanced” path, but if a parent (or legal guardian) and the school agree that the student should take the “Standard” or basic curriculum, parents may sign a form (see DOE guidance) that will allow the student to graduate meeting the basic high school program.

3. When does a student and his/her parents need to make the decision as to whether or not they choose to take the standard or basic curriculum?

A: Depending on a school’s requirement of prerequisite courses any student may take any courses of study they choose. However a student and/or parents may decide at any point their high school career to opt for the standard curriculum. The department strongly suggests Eighth grade parents are made aware of their options, but schools should encouraged parents to have their students to take the “Advanced” course of study. The goals of the state law are to raise expectations of all students and require parents to make a conscientious decision if they choose the standard curriculum.

4. If a student and parents choose the Standard curriculum can they choose later on to take the advanced high school program?

A: Yes, however, depending on when the student takes the advanced courses he/she needs to be aware that beginning advanced courses their senior year may be too late to complete the necessary course work. But nothing precludes a student from taking higher levels of course work at any point in his/her high school career.

5. Is there a form and/or procedure parents and school administrators or counselors will need to follow to opt for the standard curriculum?

A: Yes, the Department of Education in coordination with the SD School Counselors Association is preparing information that can be used with parents to explain the new graduation requirements and procedures. This information will be available in the spring of 2005.

6. Are students severely limited in their elective options with the three levels of high school curriculum? The summary sheet explains that a student must have 22 credits and is allowed 6 units of electives for the Standard curriculum, 5 units for the Advanced, and only 2.5 units for the Distinguished.

A: The elective units reflected on the Graduation Requirements summary sheet explains the difference between the total credits required for a particular curriculum and the minimum 22 credits necessary to graduate. For example, if a student took the Standard curriculum they would complete 16 required units + 6 elective units to meet the minimum 22 credits. However, the 22 unit requirement is the minimum, not the maximum.

Most schools can offer up to 28 credits or more depending on their schedule. A student taking all of the Distinguished requirements would complete 19.5 units and still have another 7.5 electives if they chose to take 28 credits.

7. The graduation requirements now require students to take a course in either Economics or Personal Finance. Does this mean that a school can offer either or both courses, and that students would meet the requirement if they took either course?

A: Yes, the new rules allow flexibility for schools to offer either a .5 credit of Economics or .5 credit of Personal Finance or both to meet this standard.

8. If a student took Economics, could they use the course to fulfill both the Personal Finance requirement and a Social Studies requirement?

A: No, the Personal Finance course is a stand alone graduation requirement and may not be used to meet other graduation standards. However, in the event a student took Personal Finance and Economics, the Econ course could then be used as a Social Studies option.

9. At what level is it suggested students take the Economics or Personal Finance classes.

A: In cooperation with the department, a team of teachers is working to revise the current Economics and Personal Finance standards. This will give schools a guide as to what should be taught in these courses. The standards will be written at a level that strongly suggests the courses be offered for upper classmen at the Junior or Senior level.

10. What certification requirement is necessary to meet the Economics or Personal Finance requirement?

A: For Economics, teachers will need to be certified in Social Studies with an Economics endorsement or in Business Education . For Personal Finance, teachers will need to be certified in Business Education, Family and Consumer Science, Mathematics, or Social Studies with the Economics endorsement.

11. The graduation requirements now require students to take a course in either Physical Education or Health. Does this mean that a school can offer either or both courses, and that students would meet the requirement if they took either course? At what level is it suggested students take this course?

A: Yes, the new rules allow flexibility for schools to offer either a .5 credit of Physical Education or .5 credit of Health to meet this standard. Teachers must be certified in their respective areas to teach the courses. The current PE and Health standards are being reviewed to provide schools with guidance of the content to be taught in each course. These courses are recommended to be taught at the Freshman or Sophomore levels.

12. Can a student satisfy the PE requirement if the school allows PE credit for participation in sports activities?

A: No, Physical Education or Health courses should be a specific course designed to teach the PE and/or Health education standards.

13. Is the “Distinguished” course of study the equivalent of what is required for the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship?

A: Yes, students taking the �Distinguished� high school program would be meeting requirements necessary to be eligible for the SD Opportunity Scholarship in addition to a semester of health or physical education and a semester of economics or personal finance. However, keep in mind that meeting course requirements is only one of several criteria to become eligibility for the scholarship. For further information about the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship, contact Janelle Toman at the Board of Regents office. janellet@sdbor.edu

14. The graduation requirements require a notation be placed on a student’s transcript if he/she completes the requirements for the “Advanced” or “Distinguished” course of study. Does this also suggest there are differentiated diplomas a student would receive?

A: No, all students graduating from a South Dakota high school will receive the same diploma. Only the notation on the student’s transcript as to which course of study a student completed, will distinguish the various high school programs.

15. Under the category labeled “required offerings” a student may take 2 units in any combination of World Languages, Computer Studies, or an approved Career and Technical Education (CTE) course. What is an approved CTE course?

A: The Office of Career and Technical Education defines an approved CTE course as any career technical education course that has an approved program application on file and meets the criteria of 1) certified teacher, 2) Crosswalk Project, 3)Advisory Committee, 4) Program Improvement Process and reports, and 5) Data Collection. For more information or to obtain an application contact the Office of Career and Technical Education. Gloria Smith-Rockhold, gloria.smith-rockhold@state.sd.us.

16. What are the minimum course offerings a school needs to have to meet the “required offerings” requirement?

A: Administrative rule 24:03:06:05:04 defines the minimum course offerings a school must meet for all graduation requirements. Within the required offerings section a school must offer or students must select 2 units with any combination of World Language, or Computer Studies, or an approved CTE course(s), or additional mathematics or science courses.

17. When a student is signing off to graduate under the Standard pathway, when does that paperwork need to be submitted?

A: The paperwork needs to be in that student's file by the time he or she graduates from high school.

18. (Generalized) If it takes a student two years to finish the Algebra requirement, will that count as 2 credits worth of math?

A: Under the Standard pathway, yes. Under Advanced and Distinguished, no.

19. When do the new graduation requirements go into effect?

A: Graduation requirements will alter slightly, going into effect on July 1, 2007, and then again on July 1, 2009. Based on this, graduation requirements will follow a student based on the year of his or her graduation. For example, if a student enrolls as a freshman in the fall of 2006, it would most likely follow that the student would graduate in the spring of 2010, therefore the graduation requirements for that student would be the requirements that go into effect on July 1, 2009. This can be seen in administrative rule 24:43:11:02.

In a similar vein, if a student is a senior in the 2006-2007 school year and fails to graduate that spring, the student would then encounter the graduation requirements that take effect on July 1, 2007, which place more rigorous requirements on that student for graduation.

In conclusion, as mentioned, which graduation requirements a student must graduate under depends on what year the student intends to graduate. The administrative rules that outline these requirements and the subsequent schedule of implementation can be found at the following URL: http://legis.state.sd.us/rules/DisplayRule.aspx?Rule=24:43:11:02

20. What certification requirement is necessary to meet the Economics or Personal Finance requirement?

A: For Economics, teachers will need to be certified in Social Studies with an Economics endorsement or in Business Education. For Personal Finance, teachers will need to be certified in Business Education, Family and Consumer Science, Mathematics, or Social Studies with the Economics endorsement.

21. Can alternative courses, such as weightlifting, be considered a P.E. course?

A: Yes, as long as the course follows a course curriculum.

22. Are there any indicators for the school to determine if a student should be progressing toward a certain pathway?

A: Whereas a district always has data available through the CRT website that pertains to test scores, etc., the State will not provide any indicators that are intended to drive a district decision as to which pathway a student should progress toward. This is a local decision to be made by the student, parent/guardian, and counselor and/or administrator.

23. Where are the Economics and World History standards located?

A: The Economics and World History standards are included as a strand in the Social Studies standards that are currently being revised. The revised standards were approved for First Reading by the State Board of Education and have been posted in draft form only for open comment at the URL below. The Department of Education anticipates the document to be approved as final by Spring/early Summer.

http://doe.sd.gov/contentstandards/social/newstandards/Index.asp

24. When will the DakotaSTEP be aligned to the new Social Studies standards?

A: There is no plan at this time to align the DakotaSTEP to the new Social Studies standards.

25. Will Standard, Advanced and Distinguished need to be noted on a students� transcript? If so, will there be a drop-down/pull-down for that in Campus?

A: Advanced and Distinguished will need to be noted on a student�s transcript, but not Standard. We are currently looking into working with Campus to get that option included.

26. If a student is on an IEP and will most likely not meet the Standard requirements, would it be appropriate to have a lower graduation pathway to accommodate this student?

A: Further clarification on this and several other SPED-related issues is being sought and developed by the Department of Education at this time.

27. Do Sociology, Psychology, and Current Events count as Social Studies electives?

A: Yes.

28. Does Lakota Language count as a World Language?

A: Yes.

29. Can Lakota History replace a Social Studies requirement?

A: Lakota cannot replace a course that is designated as required for graduation, but Lakota History can fulfill the 0.5 unit of elective coursework that is required for Social Studies.

30. Does Lakota Language count as a Social Studies elective?

A: No. As mentioned, Lakota Language is considered a World Language.

31. What constitutes a �unit�, as used on the new graduation requirements?

A: One unit is equivalent to one year of class time, or a �Carnegie Unit� of 146 hours of �seat time�. In that, 0.5 units is equivalent to one semester of class time.

32. Will the State be providing course descriptions for course design?

A: At this time, it is not the intention of the State to provide course descriptions. Course content standards are provided by the Department of Education and the design of curriculum to meet these standards is a local-control decision.

2006 Graduation Requirements