13-55-31.1. High school course requirements for opportunity scholarship eligibility.
To be eligible for an opportunity scholarship, a student who entered the ninth grade prior to the 2010-2011 school year shall complete the following high school course requirements:
(1)Four or more units of language arts that include a minimum of the following:
(a)One and one-half units of writing;
(b)One and one-half units of literature that must include one-half unit of American Literature;
(c)One-half unit of speech or debate; and
(d)One-half unit of a language arts elective;
(2)Three or more units of social studies that include the following:
(a)One unit of U.S. History;
(b)One-half unit of U.S. government;
(c)One-half unit of geography;
(d)One-half unit of world history; and
(e)One-half unit of a social studies elective;
(3)Four units of mathematics that must include the following:
(a)One unit of algebra I;
(b)One unit of geometry;
(c)One unit of algebra II; and
(d)One unit of advanced math;
(4)Four units of science, including at least three units in laboratory science, that must include the following:
(a)One unit of biology;
(b)One unit of any physical science;
(c)One unit of chemistry or physics; and
(d)One unit of science electives;
(5)Two units of world languages (two years of the same language);
(6)One-half unit of computer studies;
(7)One unit of fine arts;
(8)One-half unit of personal finance or economics; and
(9)One-half unit of physical education or health.
A student may earn academic core content credit by completing an approved career and technical education course. Approval to offer credit for a career and technical education course must be obtained through an application process with the Department of Education. The Department of Education shall meet with the Board of Regents to determine final course approval. The application must include:
(1)Course syllabus;
(2)Standards-based curriculum;
(3)Teacher certification; and
(4)Assessment of standards by methods including end-of-course exams, authentic assessment, project-based learning or rubrics.
To be eligible for an opportunity scholarship, a student who enters the ninth grade in the 2010-2011 school year or thereafter shall complete the following high school course requirements:
(1)Four or more units of language arts that include a minimum of the following:
(a)One and one-half units of writing;
(b)One and one-half units of literature that must include one-half unit of American literature;
(c)One-half unit of speech or debate; and
(d)One-half unit of a language arts elective;
(2)Three units or more of social studies that include the following:
(a)One unit of U.S. history;
(b)One-half unit of U.S. government;
(c)One-half unit of geography;
(d)One-half unit of world history; and
(e)One-half unit of a social studies elective;
(3)Four units of mathematics that must include the following:
(a)One unit of algebra I;
(b)One unit of geometry;
(c)One unit of algebra II; and
(d)One unit of advanced math;
(4)Four units of science, including at least three units in laboratory science, that must include the following:
(a)One unit of biology;
(b)One unit of any physical science;
(c)One unit of chemistry or physics; and
(d)One unit of science electives;
(5)Two units of either of the following or a combination of the two:
(a)Approved career and technical education courses; and
(b)World languages;
Approval for a career and technical education course must be obtained through an application process with the Department of Education. The department shall meet with the Board of Regents to determine final course approval;
(6)One-half unit of personal finance or economics;
(7)One unit of fine arts;
(8)One-half unit of physical education; and
(9)For students entering the ninth grade in the 2013-2014 school year and thereafter, one-half unit of health or health integration.
A student may be granted up to one unit of credit in fine arts for participation in extracurricular activities. A maximum of one-fourth unit of credit may be granted for each extracurricular activity in which a student participates during each school year. In order to grant credit for an extracurricular activity, a school district must document the alignment of the activity with fine arts content standards approved by the South Dakota Board of Education Standards.
Students entering the ninth grade in the 2013-2014 school year and thereafter are required to take one-half unit of health at anytime during grades six through twelve. A school district may choose to integrate health across the curriculum at the middle or high school level in lieu of a stand-alone course.
A student may earn academic core content credit by completing an approved career and technical education course. Approval to offer credit for a career and technical education course must be obtained through an application process with the Department of Education. The Department of Education shall meet with the Board of Regents to determine final course approval. The application must include:
(1)Course syllabus;
(2)Standards-based curriculum;
(3)Teacher certification; and
(4)Assessment of standards by methods including end-of-course exams, authentic assessment, project-based learning or rubrics.
Source: SL 2010, ch 96, §3; SL 2017, ch 81, §57.
Structure South Dakota Codified Laws
Chapter 55 - Scholarships And Free Tuition At State Institutions
Section 13-55-1 - Regents prohibited from granting scholarships except as expressly provided.
Section 13-55-2 - Veterans entitled to free tuition at state institutions--Period of entitlement.
Section 13-55-3 - Time allowed for use of veterans' benefits.
Section 13-55-4 - Veterans' benefits not applicable if federal benefits available.
Section 13-55-5 - Determination of eligibility for veterans' benefits.
Section 13-55-6 - Free education of children of residents who died during service in armed forces.
Section 13-55-7 - Agencies considered armed forces for purpose of qualifying orphans.
Section 13-55-8 - Application for veteran's orphan benefits--Determination of eligibility--Rules.
Section 13-55-9 - Certificate of eligibility of veteran's orphan--Action of board final.
Section 13-55-9.1 - Assistance to dependents of prisoners or missing in action--Definition of terms.
Section 13-55-9.2 - Free tuition and fees to dependents.
Section 13-55-9.3 - Federal benefits considered.
Section 13-55-9.5 - Certificates of entitlement--Disposition of copies.
Section 13-55-9.6 - Benefits not lost by return or death of parent.
Section 13-55-9.7 - State funds used for benefits.
Section 13-55-11.1 - Certification of visual impairment of beneficiary.
Section 13-55-11.2 - Exclusion from tuition and fee exemption.
Section 13-55-12 - Visual impairment exemption not applicable to repeat work.
Section 13-55-13 - Visual impairment exemption not applicable to private instruction charges.
Section 13-55-23 - Application of legislative exemptions.
Section 13-55-24 - Reduced tuition for elementary or secondary teachers or vocational instructors.
Section 13-55-25 - Maximum credit hours of reduced tuition for teachers or vocational instructors.
Section 13-55-26 - Space in courses limited for reduced tuition participants.
Section 13-55-27 - Eligibility of teachers and vocational instructors for reduced tuition.
Section 13-55-28 - Benefits not to be used in conjunction with other benefits.
Section 13-55-30 - Opportunity scholarship program established.
Section 13-55-31 - Eligibility requirements for opportunity scholarship.
Section 13-55-31.1 - High school course requirements for opportunity scholarship eligibility.
Section 13-55-31.2 - Alternative testing requirements for opportunity scholarship eligibility.
Section 13-55-34 - Continuing eligibility requirements for scholarship recipients.
Section 13-55-36 - Board of Regents to promulgate rules.
Section 13-55-37 - Hagen-Harvey memorial scholarship program established.
Section 13-55-38 - Scholarship board established--Terms--Meetings--Membership--Quorum.
Section 13-55-39 - Eligibility for scholarship--Criteria.
Section 13-55-39.1 - Authority of board to require information of scholarship applicants.
Section 13-55-40 - Scholarship award payments--Amounts.
Section 13-55-41.1 - Number of scholarships.
Section 13-55-42 - Maintaining eligibility--Criteria--Waiver of criteria--Rescission of award.
Section 13-55-42.1 - Alternate award of amount of rescinded scholarship.
Section 13-55-43 - Department to support board.
Section 13-55-44 - Expenditure authority appropriated to department.
Section 13-55-45 - Secretary to approve vouchers and draw warrants.
Section 13-55-46 - Department to promulgate rules, criteria.
Section 13-55-47 - Jump start scholarship program established.
Section 13-55-48 - Eligibility requirements for jump start scholarship program.
Section 13-55-49 - Amount of scholarship--Installment payments.
Section 13-55-51 - Secretary to transfer appropriated funds for jump start scholarships.
Section 13-55-62 - Teach for America grant program--Duration--Amount of grants.
Section 13-55-63 - Annual report to Governor and Legislature on Teach for America grant program.
Section 13-55-64 - Critical teaching needs scholarship program--Purpose.
Section 13-55-65 - Critical Teaching Needs Scholarship Board.
Section 13-55-66 - Basis for critical teaching needs scholarship awards.
Section 13-55-67 - Eligible postsecondary institutions.
Section 13-55-68 - Critical teaching needs scholarship eligibility criteria.
Section 13-55-69 - Grade point average--Written essay or other information.
Section 13-55-70 - Amount of critical teaching needs scholarship.
Section 13-55-71 - Maintenance of eligibility for critical teaching needs scholarship.