SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota officials might make it easier for some educators to get the credentials they need to teach math.

Public school teachers must pass content-specific tests for particular subjects such as math to be certified to teach, and almost half of aspiring math teachers in South Dakota are flunking the exam.

State Board of Education President Don Kirkegaard says officials won't lower standards for teachers. But he says the board wants to see if there are alternatives better suited to teachers who might not specialize in math, or who teach only lower levels.

The Argus Leader reports those teachers might be able to earn a separate endorsement and avoid the certification exam. Kirkegaard says it wouldn't be lowering the bar, but instead implementing "a different bar for different classes."

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