South Dakota will update its high school graduation requirements to allow students to earn academic credit for participating in extracurricular athletics, a change the Board of Education Standards must implement by September 30, 2026. The bill modifies the state's graduation credit rules to recognize athletic participation as a valid way to meet some of the credits needed to graduate. This gives high schools flexibility to award credit for sports and other extracurricular activities alongside traditional classroom coursework.
This bill does not directly amend codified state law.
The amendment clarifies and streamlines the rules for awarding high school credit for extracurricular activities by specifying that fine arts credit (up to one credit total, one-fourth per activity) and physical education credit (up to one-half credit total, one-fourth per activity) can be earned through documented alignment with state content standards, while also tightening language around career and technical education course approval requirements. This NARROWS the bill's scope by establishing clearer limits on extracurricular credit eligibility rather than broadly directing amendment of all graduation requirements.
House of Representatives Do Pass Amended Failed, YEAS 31, NAYS 36. H.J. 139
House of Representatives Deferred to another day H.J. 128
Education Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 8, NAYS 7. H.J. 1
Education Motion to amend H.J. 1
Education Motion to amend H.J. 1
Education Scheduled for hearing
First read in House and referred to House Education H.J. 12
Prime sponsor · Rep.
R
Prime sponsor · Sen.
R
Do Pass Amended
Education — Do Pass Amended