Amend the bill, as and if amended, Section 59-18-310(B)(2), as contained in SECTION 1, by deleting the item in its entirety and inserting:
/ (2) Beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, each student must take the exit exam required in item (1) to graduate from high school, but a student's score on the exit exam may not be used as criterion for graduation and a student must not be required to achieve any minimum score to graduate. A person who is no longer enrolled in a public school and who previously failed to receive a high school diploma or was denied graduation solely for failing to meet the exit exam requirements set forth in Section 59-18-310(B) and State Regulation, may petition the local school board to determine the student's eligibility to receive a high school diploma pursuant to this chapter. The local school board will transmit diploma requests to the South Carolina Department of Education in accordance with department procedures. Petitions under this section must be submitted to the local school district by December 31, 2015. Students receiving diplomas in accordance with this section shall not be counted as graduates in the graduation rate calculations for affected schools and districts, either retroactively or in current or future calculations. On or before January 31, 2017, the South Carolina Department of Education shall report to the State Board of Education and the General Assembly, the number of diplomas granted, by school district, under the provision. The State Board of Education shall remove any conflicting requirement and promulgate conforming changes in its applicable regulations." /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.