South Dakota Board of Education revises Graduation Requirements

South Dakota education officials have revised high school graduation requirements to offer more flexibility to students in the upcoming school year. The state’s Board of Education Standards adopted the revisions Monday despite concerns that changing graduation requirements might lower academic standards. The changes are the first in nearly a decade. Revisions include adding endorsement to graduation plans so that students can show they’ve taken coursework with a specified focus. The board also approved an amendment directing the state’s Education Department to review graduation requirements again in 2026. School districts could implement the changes by Aug. 20, depending on approval from the Legislature’s Rules Review Committee.