H 4984 General Bill, By Townsend
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 59-39-100, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
 1976, RELATING TO HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS AND THE UNITS REQUIRED THEREFOR, SO AS
 TO REVISE THE MANNER IN WHICH THESE UNITS ARE SPECIFIED AND DETERMINED.

   04/08/98  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-23
   04/08/98  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works HJ-23

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 59-39-100, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS AND THE UNITS REQUIRED THEREFOR, SO AS TO REVISE THE MANNER IN WHICH THESE UNITS ARE SPECIFIED AND DETERMINED.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Section 59-39-100 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 155 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 59-39-100. Diplomas issued to graduates of accredited high schools within this State must be uniform in every respect and particularly as to color, size, lettering, and marking. The number of units required for a state high school diploma is twenty units as prescribed by the State Board of Education. Beginning in the 1986-87 academic year, a minimum of three units must be earned in mathematics and a minimum of two units must be earned in science.

One unit in computer science, if approved by the State Department of Education for this purpose, may be counted toward the mathematics requirement.

Students who earn one unit in science and six or more units in a specific occupational service area will meet the science requirements for a state high school diploma. Vocational programs operating on a 3-2-1 structure may count prevocational education as one of the six required units.

Beginning with the ninth grade class of school year 1997-98 and thereafter, the number of units required for a high school diploma is twenty-four units as prescribed by the State Board of Education by regulation, with one additional unit required in mathematics, science, and computer science to include keyboarding. For students in a college preparatory track, as defined by the state board, one additional unit must be earned in a foreign language; and for students in a track designed to enter the work force, as defined by the state board, one additional vocational unit must be earned. Beginning with the ninth grade class of school year 1997-98, if a student counts one unit of computer science toward his mathematics requirement as permitted above, one additional unit of computer science must be earned. Standard state diplomas and STAR diplomas shall be uniform in every respect as prescribed by the State Board of Education. The number of units required for a state high school diploma is twenty units as prescribed by the State Board of Education. Beginning with the ninth grade class of the school year 1997-98 and thereafter, the number of units required for high school diplomas is twenty-four as prescribed by the State Board of Education by regulation. Students must earn one additional unit in mathematics, one additional unit in science, one unit in computer technology in which proficiency may be validated either by course or a test as prescribed by the State Board of Education, and two units in foreign language for college preparatory students or four units in occupational education for tech prep students.

Nothing herein prohibits local school boards of trustees from awarding recognition to students who complete additional units and credits beyond those required by this section."

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.