KOTA Territory NewsS.D. Board of Education wants to beef up high school requirements

S.D. Board of Education wants to beef up high school requirements

Katy Urban

South Dakota schools have had to stress math and science in order for students to be ready for college.
 
"It's had a significant impact at reducing our rates of remediation and improving our rates of student retention at the universities,"  Board of Regents member Jack Warner said.

Now, the South Dakota Board of Education wants to take that emphasis and transform it into a requirement.   A proposal presented to the board requires each student to take Algebra Two and either Physics or Chemistry on top of the other two math and science requirements. 
 

"It increases the rigor for a large number of students in our state while creating flexibility," South Dakota Secretary of Education Tom Oster said.

Students and parents who don't think those courses are necessary can opt out, but they will still be required to take a third math and science credit.   "We are pleased about the standards because we think they're going to lead to better college prep for more students," Warner said.

There is another proposed change that not everyone is thrilled about.  The board wants to allow students to fulfill their fine arts and physical education requirements using their extra curricular activities.   For example, if a student plays football, it could replace a Physical Education class.   Opponents say that's not good enough.  "I am a huge advocate of athletics and of physical education in general, but they are not a substitute for physical education," P.E. teacher Betsy Silva said. 
 
"To make the argument that you can't accomplish in a sport what you can accomplish in P. E. class, I would largely disagree," Oster said.  The new proposal gives students credit for 'all' school affiliated extra-curricular activities.   Outside activities may qualify, but have to be approved on a case-by-case basis.

Whether these changes will be accepted by the public is the question now, but state education leaders say there is no question that South Dakota needs to move in that direction to compete.

A public hearing on the issue will be held November 2nd.