H*5027(Rat #0622, Act #0003 of 1995)  General Bill, By Breeland, Anderson, 
Bailey, J.J. Bailey, J. Brown, A.W. Byrd, Canty, R.C. Fulmer, Govan, 
H.M. Hallman, Harrell, J. Hines, D.N. Holt, Inabinett, M.F. Jaskwhich, Kennedy, 
W.D. Keyserling, Law, McMahand, Phillips, Scott, Spearman, D.C. Waldrop, 
L.S. Whipper, J.M. White and D. Williams
 A Bill to amend Section 59-30-10, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976,
 relating to the State Basic Skills Assessment Program, so as to provide for
 four options which may be offered to a student who has exited the school
 system at the end of the twelfth grade without having passed the exit
 exam.-amended title

   04/06/94  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-5
   04/06/94  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works HJ-5
   04/14/94  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Education and Public Works HJ-4
   05/04/94  House  Amended HJ-22
   05/04/94  House  Read second time HJ-24
   05/05/94  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-10
   05/05/94  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-7
   05/05/94  Senate Referred to Committee on Education SJ-7
   05/26/94  Senate Recalled from Committee on Education SJ-29
   05/27/94  Senate Read second time SJ-30
   06/01/94  Senate Read third time and enrolled SJ-81
   06/02/94         Ratified R 622
   01/03/95         Signed By Governor
   01/03/95         Act No. 3

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 59-30-10, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE STATE BASIC SKILLS ASSESSMENT PROGRAM, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR FOUR OPTIONS WHICH MAY BE OFFERED TO A STUDENT WHO HAS EXITED THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AT THE END OF THE TWELFTH GRADE WITHOUT HAVING PASSED THE EXIT EXAM.

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

Options for certain students who have not passed the exit exam

SECTION 1. Section 59-30-10(f) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(f) Beginning in the school year 1981-82 and continuing through the school year 1984-85, administer the test specified in item (e) of this section to all students in grade eleven for the purpose of collecting baseline data. The Department of Education shall use the baseline data for the purpose of program assessment and shall provide assistance to those schools or districts in which the data indicate that program adjustment or modification is most needed due to inordinate numbers of children not passing the test. The State Board of Education shall use the baseline data for the purpose of determining the high school credentials to be awarded students not meeting the minimum achievement scores. Beginning with the school year 1985-86, the eleventh grade examination may be no longer administered and the board shall cause to be administered an exit examination to all tenth grade students. Local school districts shall establish remedial programs to assist those students who do not pass the examination. Passage of this exit examination is a condition for the receipt of a state high school diploma for those students who otherwise meet the requirements for the diploma during the school year 1989-90 and thereafter. Additionally, during the school year 1989-90 and thereafter individuals participating in adult education programs must pass the exit examination as an additional requirement for the receipt of a state high school diploma. Failure to pass the examination obligates the student to enroll in a remedial program. Students who do not pass the examination in the tenth grade must retake the test in the eleventh grade and may retake the test twice in the twelfth grade, thereby providing students with four opportunities to pass the exit examination. If an individual exits the school system at the end of the twelfth grade without having passed the exit examination, he shall be awarded an appropriate State certificate indicating the number of credits earned and grades completed or may be offered the opportunity to:

(1) accept a certificate indicating the number of credits earned and grades completed instead of a diploma;

(2) return in the fall as a senior if he is under the maximum age for attending high school, fully enroll in school, and retake the exit examination twice if necessary in the same manner it is offered to other seniors;

(3) enroll in the summer school exit exam program established below; or

(4) enroll in adult education.

For a student who has failed to pass the exit examination after four chances and who certifies that his military, educational, or other career goals must be placed on hold as a result of his failure to pass the exit exam, a summer testing of the exit exam following a remediation program in summer school after the student's twelfth grade year may be offered to allow these students to move forward with their career in a timely manner. If the student fails the exit exam following this summer program, he must then be offered the options (1), (2), or (4) referred to above. All costs related to the summer school program and summer testing of the exit exam must be paid by the student."

Time effective

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

Approved the 3rd day of January, 1995.