The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.South Dakota Directs Board of Education Standards to Update High School Graduation Requirements by September 2026
Last action · January 26, 2026: ReconsideredSponsors: Lauren Nelson and 16 others
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Proposed
The South Dakota Legislature requires the Board of Education Standards to amend administrative rules for high school graduation coursework by September 30, 2026. The updated rules establish specific credit minimums across language arts, social studies, mathematics, science, and electives, while permitting computer science or agriculture science substitutions.
Changes graduation requirements and course substitution rules for high school students across South Dakota, affecting credit distribution for subjects including science, fine arts, and career and technical education.
- The South Dakota Board of Education Standards oversees state-level administrative rules governing K-12 education policy, including high school graduation requirements. context
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
high school students
Students must meet revised coursework and credit distribution requirements to graduate and may utilize new course substitution options.
school districts
Districts must document alignment of extracurricular activities with fine arts standards to grant credit and follow updated curriculum rules.
Board of Education Standards
The Board is directed to provide for and file administrative rule amendments no later than September 30, 2026.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the deadline for updating the high school graduation rules?
Can computer science or agriculture courses replace science credits?
How can students earn fine arts credit through extracurricular activities?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · passed the House.
Procedural history
7 actions- Jan 26, 2026HouseReconsidered
- Jan 23, 2026HouseIntent to reconsider
- Jan 23, 2026HouseFloorDo Pass
- Jan 22, 2026HouseDeferred to another day
- Jan 21, 2026HouseCommitteeDo Pass
- Jan 21, 2026HouseScheduled for hearing
Show 1 earlier action
- Jan 16, 2026HouseIntroducedFirst read in House and referred to
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Voting Record
Do Pass
Total
70
- Yes
- 33
- No
- 31
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 0
- Abstain
- 0
- Other positions
- 6
How they voted (1)
Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Show 12 more sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Expanded Course Substitution Rules for Science Credits
The measure explicitly allows state-approved computer science and agriculture science courses to substitute for general science credits while preserving biology requirements.
Connected Entities
Sources
sdlegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 75)
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools