State of South Dakota  
EIGHTY-SEVENTH SESSION
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY, 2012  

956T0666   SENATE BILL   NO.  164  

Introduced by:    Senators Tidemann, Brown, Haverly, Heineman, Juhnke, Olson (Russell), and Rhoden and Representatives Hansen (Jon), Blake, Brunner, Deelstra, Dryden, Fargen, Haggar, Hawley, Hickey, Hunhoff (Bernie), Munsterman, Perry, Stricherz, Turbiville, Wick, Wink, and Wismer
 

        FOR AN ACT ENTITLED, An Act to require public school students in grade eleven to take certain assessments.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:
    Section 1. That chapter 13-3 be amended by adding thereto a NEW SECTION to read as follows:
    Except as otherwise provided by law, each public school student in grade eleven shall:
            (1)    Take the test produced by ACT, Incorporated, including the ACT writing test; or
            (2)    Take three WorkKeys assessments produced by ACT, Incorporated, that measure workplace skills and are approved by the secretary of education.
    Each student required to take an assessment pursuant to this section shall choose which one of the assessment options to take, and the Department of Education is responsible for the cost of procuring and administering any assessment required pursuant to this section.
    A school superintendent may exempt a student from the requirement in this section if taking such an assessment is not required by the student's individualized education plan or if other

special circumstances exist.
    Section 2. That chapter 13-3 be amended by adding thereto a NEW SECTION to read as follows:

    Once a student has taken the assessment required in section 1 of this Act, the student's career advisor or guidance counselor shall meet with the student to review the student's assessment results.
    Section 3. That chapter 13-3 be amended by adding thereto a NEW SECTION to read as follows:
    Each school superintendent shall, at a time and in a manner determined by the Department of Education, report to the Department of Education the number of eleventh grade students who took the ACT test, including the ACT writing test; the number of eleventh grade students who took the three WorkKeys assessments; the number of eleventh grade students who were exempted from the requirement in section 1 of this Act; and the reason why each of the exemptions was granted.