To meet the curriculum requirements for the Opportunity Scholarship, all recipients must receive a "C" or higher on all coursework including:
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4 units of English (courses with major emphasis upon grammar, composition, or literary analysis may be included to meet this requirement).
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3 units of Social Studies (such as history, economics, sociology, geography, U.S. government, and similar courses).
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4 units of Algebra or Higher Mathematics (algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or other advanced mathematics, as well as accelerated or honors mathematics [algebra] at the 8th grade, shall be accepted). NOT INCLUDED are arithmetic, business, consumer, or general mathematics or similar courses.
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4 units of Science, including 3 units of approved laboratory science (courses in biology, chemistry, or physics in which at least one regular laboratory is scheduled each week).
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1 unit of Fine Arts (in art, theatre, or music, as well as approved extracurricular activity).
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2 units of either of the following or a combination of the two:
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Approved Career and Technical Education Courses
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Modern or Classical Language (Includes American Sign Language; all units must be in the same language)
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1/2 unit of Personal Finance or Economics
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1/2 unit of Physical Education
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1/2 unit of Health or Health Integration
Students seeking to determine whether coursework at their particular school district will be counted toward units in English, Social Studies, Mathematics, Science, Fine Arts, or Modern/Classical Language are encouraged to review the list of approved courses for high school throughout the state in the link provided below. Career and Technical Education courses that have been approved by the Department of Education can be used by students to meet the "Approved career and technical education course," units.
INSTITUTIONAL PERSONNEL: For purposes of reviewing high school transcripts with graduation dates prior to August 2018, please CLICK HERE to view the earlier version of the common course number approved list that was in effect prior to the SD Department of Education’s state coding updates.
School Administrators / Districts seeking to offer Career and Technical Education for core content credit must first seek approval from the South Dakota Department of Education (SDDOE). A link to their website outlining their approval process is provided below.
