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S. 642
STATUS INFORMATION
Joint Resolution
Sponsors: Senator Hayes
Document Path: l:\council\bills\agm\18798bh11.docx
Companion/Similar bill(s): 686
Introduced in the Senate on March 3, 2011
Currently residing in the Senate Committee on Education
Summary: Science requirements for receiving diploma
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number
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3/3/2011 Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 3)
3/3/2011 Senate Referred to Committee on Education
(Senate Journal-page 3)
View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
TO CLARIFY THE SCIENCE COURSE REQUIREMENT FOR RECEIVING A SOUTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. The state is transitioning from requiring all students to take physical science with its associated end-of-course test to requiring students to take biology with its associated end-of-course test.
SECTION 2. Section 59-18-310 requires students to pass a science course in a subject in which the end-of-course assessment is administered to earn a state high school diploma.
SECTION 3. The State Board of Education further defined the high school diploma requirement to be the course in which a federally approved end-of-course test is administered. Currently, the federal government has not given final approval to the biology assessment, although the biology end-of-course exam is being administered to meet federal accountability requirements. Due to the delay by the federal government, there is lack of clarity and certainty as to which course is required for graduation.
SECTION 4. To provide clarity and certainty for high school students, for the graduation classes of 2011 and 2012, students who earn a unit of credit in either biology or physical science shall count that course credit as the required science course for graduation purposes.
SECTION 5. This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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