S*0858 Concurrent Resolution, By J.V. Smith
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE THE SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL FOR
 THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES FOR ITS OUTSTANDING RANKING IN THE TOP TWO HUNDRED
 PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE NATION FOR THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS TAKING ADVANCED
 PLACEMENT AND INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE TESTS AS COMPARED TO THE NUMBER OF
 GRADUATING SENIORS, AS REPORTED BY NEWSWEEK MAGAZINE.

   05/18/05  Senate Introduced, adopted, sent to House SJ-2
   05/19/05  House  Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence HJ-3

TO RECOGNIZE THE SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES FOR ITS OUTSTANDING RANKING IN THE TOP TWO HUNDRED PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE NATION FOR THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS TAKING ADVANCED PLACEMENT AND INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE TESTS AS COMPARED TO THE NUMBER OF GRADUATING SENIORS, AS REPORTED BY NEWSWEEK MAGAZINE.

Whereas, established in 1981 by an executive order by Governor Richard Riley, the Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities was established to allow artistically gifted high school students the extraordinary opportunity to study with master artists; and

Whereas, the results of this program were so outstanding that the General Assembly enacted legislation in 1994 establishing a nine-month residential school, and Dr. Virginia Uldrick was named the founding president; and

Whereas, after over sixteen million dollars was raised through state and private funding, the school was designed under the Tuscan Village concept, as a living and learning environment to match the philosophy of the school of integration of both students and professional artists; and

Whereas, a nationally renowned cadre of artists developed the arts curriculum in the areas of creative writing, dance, drama, music, and visual arts, and a host of distinguished faculty members was chosen to develop advanced preprofessional studies in the arts and academics; and

Whereas, all curriculum, both in the art and academic realms, is critically important to students and faculty, and the Governor's School sets high expectations and encourages students to reach for the stars in every endeavor; and

Whereas, after four years in operation, the Governor's School was the first public arts school in the country to be accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Colleges and Precollegiate Art Schools; and

Whereas, since the school's inception, approximately four hundred students have graduated and amassed 34.6 million dollars in scholarship offers to the nation's most distinguished colleges, universities, conservatories, and art schools; and

Whereas, the Governor's School garners national praise for the State in its extraordinary commitment to the whole education of its students in both the arts and traditional studies, serving as a model for other public schools to follow. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, recognize the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities for its outstanding ranking in the top two hundred public schools in the nation for the number of students taking Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate tests as compared to the number of graduating seniors, as reported by Newsweek Magazine.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Dr. Donald Beckie, President, South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities.