" enrolls in a general education development test preparation program that is school-based or for which a school contracts and successfully completes the test or reaches the age of eighteen years.
    A child is eligible to enroll in a school-based or school-contracted general education development test preparation program or take the general education development test if the child is sixteen or seventeen years of age, and the child presents written permission from the child's parent or guardian and one of the following:

"enrolls in a general education development test preparation program that is school-based or for which a school contracts and successfully completes the test or reaches the age of eighteen years.
    A child is eligible to enroll in a school-based or school-contracted general education development test preparation program or take the general education development test if the child is sixteen or seventeen years of age, and the child presents written permission from the child's parent or guardian and one of the following:

"
     Section 5. The Department of Labor may promulgate rules pursuant to chapter 1-26 to establish general education development testing procedures for children who take the test pursuant to § 13-27- 1.".

"
     Section 5. That ARSD 24:40:13:02 be amended to read as follows:

     24:40:13:02.  Initial eligibility requirements. In order to be eligible to receive a South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship, a student must:

    (1)  Be graduated from high school with a cumulative average grade of "B" (3.0 on a 4.0 scale), or greater, for all work attempted;

    (2)  Be a resident of South Dakota at the time of graduation from high school;

    (3)  Take the test administered by the American College Testing Program (ACT) or the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) before being graduated from high school;

    (4)  Receive a composite score on the ACT of at least 24 or a combined verbal and mathematics score on the SAT of at least 1070;

        (a)  Four units of English: courses with major emphasis upon grammar, composition, or literary analysis. One year of debate instruction may be included to meet this requirement;

        (b)  Four units of algebra or higher mathematics: algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or other advanced mathematics, including accelerated or honors mathematics (algebra) provided at the 8^th grade level. Arithmetic, business, consumer or general mathematics, or other similar courses, are not included;

        (c)  Four units of science, including three units of approved laboratory science: courses in biology, chemistry, or physics in which at least one regular laboratory period is scheduled each week. Accelerated or honors science (biology, physics, or chemistry) provided in the 8^th grade are accepted. Qualifying physical science or earth science courses (with lab) may be accepted on a case-by-case basis;

        (d)  Three units of social studies: history, economics, sociology, geography, United States or South Dakota government, American Problems, and similar courses;

        (e)  Two units of a modern or classical language, including American Sign Language. The two units must be in the same language;

        (f)  One unit of fine arts: effective for the fall 2005 semester for students graduating from South Dakota high schools, one unit in art, theater, or music. Such credit may be in appreciation, analysis, or performance. Through the fall 2004 semester for students graduating from South Dakota high schools, one-half unit of art, theater, or music is required. Such credit may be in appreciation, analysis, or performance;

        (g)  One half unit of computer science: students must have basic keyboarding skills, experience in using computer word processing, database, and spreadsheet packages, and experience in using the Internet or other wide area networks;

     Any No more than one course in which a student received a final grade below a "C" (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) may not be counted for purposes of this subdivision. If a student who receives disqualifying grades in courses required under this subdivision retakes those courses while in high school, the student may still qualify for eligibility if the student has the required number of courses with grades of C or above in each subcategory;

    (6)  Attend a participating institution; and

    (7)  Enter into the scholarship program within five years of the date of graduation from high school. A student who entered active military duty immediately after the date of graduation from high school may qualify for the scholarship if the student's release from military service occurs within five years from the student's graduation and the student enters the scholarship program within one year of the student's release from active military duty.".

Cheri Hauschild