The South Dakota Board of Education has approved new high school graduation requirements that officials say will require students to take rigorous courses but also give them some flexibility in choosing some courses.

For the past few years, South Dakota had two sets for graduation requirements for high school students. They had to take an advanced curriculum aimed at preparing them for college unless their parents decided that they should take a more basic curriculum that put less emphasis on math and science.

The South Dakota Legislature this year eliminated the basic curriculum, which required the Board of Education to rewrite graduation requirements. Students will get some flexibility in math and science courses.