Standards

ACCREDITATION
Sunshine Bible Academy is accredited by the State of South Dakota Division of Elementary and Secondary Education and also a member of ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International).

GRADUATION CLASS REQUIREMENTS
The State of South Dakota requires 22 units of credit for graduation, while Sunshine Bible Academy requires 24. The two additional units required are Bible courses. (The upper level Bible courses are accepted by the State of South Dakota, but not the lower level courses.)  Students are required to pass a Bible course for each year they attend Sunshine Bible Academy. The courses and units on the following page must be included in total credits.
Current requirements for basic admission requirements to a South Dakota college by the SD board of Regents are as follows:
You must be in the top 60% of your class, achieve a composite score of 18 on the ACT test, or have a GPA of at least 2.6.  Please check with your prospective college, university, or your vocational school for required entrance qualifications.
As approved by the South Dakota Board of Education Nov. 2, 2009
Except where otherwise noted, these requirements begin with students entering 9th grade in the 2010-11 school year.
A student's Personal Learning Plan must document a minimum of 22 credits that include the following:
(1.) Four units of Language Arts – must include:
   a. Writing – 1.5 units
   b. Literature – 1.5 units
   (must include .5 unit of American Literature)
   c. Speech or Debate – .5 unit
   d. Language Arts elective – .5 unit

(2.) Three units of Mathematics – must include:
   a. Algebra I – 1 unit
   b. *Algebra II – 1 unit
   c. *Geometry – 1 unit

(3.) Three units of Lab Science – must include:
   a. Biology – 1 unit
   b. Any Physical Science – 1 unit
   c. *Chemistry or Physics – 1 unit

(4.) Three units of Social Studies – must include:
   a. U.S. History – 1 unit
   b. U.S. Government – .5 unit
   c. World History – .5 unit
   d. Geography – .5 unit

(5.) ~One unit of the following-any combination:
   a. Approved Career & Technical Education
   b. Capstone Experience or Service Learning
   c. World Language

(6.) One unit of ^ Fine Arts

(7.) One-half unit of Personal Finance or Economics

(8.) One-half unit of Physical Education

(9.) ~One-half unit of Health or Health Integration

Academic core content credit may be earned by completing an approved career and technical education course. Approval to offer credit must be obtained through an application process with the Department of Education. The application must include: course syllabus; standards based curriculum; teacher certification; and assessment of standards by methods including end-of-course exams, authentic assessment, project-based learning or rubrics.

 *With school and parent/guardian approval, a student may be excused from this course in favor of a more appropriate course. A student may be excused from Algebra II or Geometry, but not both. A student is still required to take three units of Math. If a student is excused from Chemistry or Physics, the student must still take three units of Lab Science.

~Required beginning Sept. 1, 2013
Regarding the health requirement: Beginning with students who are freshmen in the fall of 2013, students will be required to take .5 unit of health at any time grades 6-12. A district may choose to integrate health across the curriculum at the middle or high school level in lieu of a stand-alone course. See Frequently Asked Questions for details.

^ Local decision. A district may decide to offer credit for extracurricular Fine Arts activities. Students may be granted up to one credit in Fine Arts for participation in extracurricular activities. A maximum of ¼ credit may be granted for each activity in each school year.
 
Adopted by State Board of Education January 2005 - Effective Fall 2006

1. English/Reading and Communication Arts (4 units)
   (1.5 Writing and 1.5 Literature including .5 American Literature and .5 Speech)
2. Social Studies (3 units)
   (1)US History, (.5)US Government,   (.5)Geography; and (.5)World History
3. Mathematics  (3 units )
   (must include Algebra1, Algebra II, and  Geometry)
4. Science (3 units)
   (min. of  3 units of  lab science) (must include Biology and Chemistry or Physics)
5. Fine Arts (1 unit)
6. Health or Physical Education  (.5 units)
7. Economics or Personal Finance (.5 units)

Required Offerings:
Students must select (2 units with any combination of )
a.World Language, or
b.Computer Studies; or
c.Approved Career and Technical
d.Education courses; or  Mathematics courses in addition to meeting the math requirement above; or Science courses in addition to meeting the science requirement above.

GRADUATION AND BACCALAUREATE
Any senior who has not completed all graduation require­ments by the date of graduation will not be permitted to participate in any commencement activities. All seniors are expected to be on campus and help with graduation and baccalaureate preparations.

4.00 Scale

Grade Conversion to GPA