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TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-29-163 SO AS TO REQUIRE TWO CREDITS OF COURSEWORK IN ONE FOREIGN LANGUAGE AND FOREIGN CULTURE WITH AN END-OF-YEAR TEST AS A REQUIREMENT FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION BEGINNING WITH STUDENTS ENTERING THE NINTH GRADE FOR THE 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR, AND TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN "ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE" PROGRAMS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-29-165, RELATING TO INSTRUCTION IN PERSONAL FINANCE FOR STUDENTS ATTENDING PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS, SO AS TO REQUIRE A ONE-HALF CREDIT COURSE IN PERSONAL FINANCE WITH AN END-OF-YEAR TEST AS A REQUIREMENT FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION BEGINNING WITH STUDENTS ENTERING THE NINTH GRADE FOR THE 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR; AND TO AMEND SECTION 59-39-100, RELATING TO UNITS REQUIRED FOR A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, SO AS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF UNITS REQUIRED TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS ACT.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Article 1, Chapter 29, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 59-29-163. (A) Beginning with students entering the ninth grade for the 2019-2020 School Year, each high school student shall complete two credits of coursework in one foreign language and foreign culture as a requirement for high school graduation. This coursework must include an end-of-course examination. The State Department of Education shall develop the curriculum for this coursework before July 1, 2020.
(B) Students who participate in an 'English as a Second Language' program may substitute the equivalent of two credit hours of coursework from that program for the requirements of subsection (A)."
SECTION 2. Section 59-29-165 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 59-29-165. All students attending a high school in this State that is sustained or in any manner supported by public funds must receive instruction in the area of personal finance. The State Department of Education will assist the school districts in identifying suitable materials for instruction Beginning with students entering the ninth grade for the 2019-2020 School Year, each high school student shall complete a one-half credit course of study in personal finance as a requirement for high school graduation. This coursework must include an end-of-course examination. The State Department of Education shall develop the curriculum for this coursework before July 1, 2020."
SECTION 3. Second 59-39-100(B) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(B) Beginning with students entering the ninth grade in for the 2019-2020 School Year 1997-1998, the number of units required for a high school diploma was increased to twenty-four twenty-six units. To support the Profile of the Graduate, for students entering the ninth grade beginning with the 2018-2019 School Year, the twenty-four twenty-six units required are as prescribed in this section and in regulation by the State Board of Education.
(1) Students will continue to be required to earn the units of credit as prescribed in regulation and, when applicable, be offered national industry certifications or credentials.
(2) Coursework must be aligned with a student's personalized diploma pathway. The State Board of Education shall promulgate regulations that outline the process and procedures for approval of courses to personalize pathways based on students' postsecondary plans and include an annually updated course activity coding manual listing approved courses. The individualized graduation planning process must plan each student's personalized pathway based on his postsecondary plans."
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
This web page was last updated on December 18, 2018 at 6:25 PM