S 1134 General Bill, By Courson and Setzler
 A Bill to amend Section 59-39-100, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976,
 relating to high school diplomas and the units required for graduation, so as
 to provide that beginning with the 1994-95 school year, one of the required
 units must be earned in economics and one must be earned in government.

   01/14/92  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-39
   01/14/92  Senate Referred to Committee on Education SJ-39

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 59-39-100, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS AND THE UNITS REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT BEGINNING WITH THE 1994-95 SCHOOL YEAR, ONE OF THE REQUIRED UNITS MUST BE EARNED IN ECONOMICS AND ONE MUST BE EARNED IN GOVERNMENT.

Whereas, recent national and world events have demonstrated that economics and government touch each citizen every day and that an understanding of fundamental economic concepts and governance is needed in an informed democracy; and

Whereas, the actions of other nations and the economy of the world and of other nations impact directly on South Carolina and its citizens; and

Whereas, students must obtain a working knowledge of national and international economics as well as fundamental and microeconomic topics to understand national and international policies and governance so they can fulfill their roles of consumer, worker, and citizen; and

Whereas, South Carolina has taken the lead nationally in developing courses for its public schools and in requiring a half unit in economics and government in order to obtain a high school diploma. Now, therefore,

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

SECTION 1. Section 59-39-100 of the 1976 Code is 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 3 units must be earned in mathematics and a minimum of 2 units must be earned in science. Beginning with the 1994-95 school year, a minimum of one unit must be earned in economics and a minimum of one unit must be earned in government.

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."

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