program to promote student learning and to measure student performance on state standards and: (1) identify areas in which students, schools, or school districts need additional support; (2) indicate the academic achievement for schools, districts, and the State; (3) satisfy federal reporting requirements; and (4) provide professional development to educators. Assessments required to be developed or adopted pursuant to the provisions of this section or chapter must be objective and reliable, and administered in English and in Braille for students as identified in their Individual Education Plan. (B)(1) The statewide assessment program must include the subjects of English/language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies in grades three through eight, as delineated in Section 5918320(B), to be first administered in 2009, and endofcourse tests for gateway courses awarded selected by the State Board of Education and approved by the Education Oversight Committee for federal accountability, which award units of credit in English/language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. Student performance targets must be established following the 2009 administration. The assessment program must be used for school and school district accountability purposes beginning with the 20082009 school year. The publication of the annual school and school district report card may be delayed for the 20082009 school year until no later than February 15, 2010. A on an student’s score endofyear assessment may not be the sole criterion for placing the student on academic probation, retaining the student in his current grade, or requiring the student to attend summer school. Beginning with the graduating class of 2010, students are required to pass a high school credit course in science and a course in United States history in which endofcourse examinations are administered to receive the state high school diploma. Beginning with the graduating class of 2015, students are no longer required to meet the exit examination requirements set forth in this section and State Regulation to earn a South Carolina high school diploma. (2) 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 pursuant to this section and State Regulation may petition the local school board to determine the eligibility student’s to receive a high school diploma pursuant to this chapter. The local school board will transmit diploma requests to the South Carolina
program to promote student learning and to measure student performance on state standards and: (1) identify areas in which students, schools, or school districts need additional support; (2) indicate the academic achievement for schools, districts, and the State; (3) satisfy federal reporting requirements; and (4) provide professional development to educators. Assessments required to be developed or adopted pursuant to the provisions of this section or chapter must be objective and reliable, and administered in English and in Braille for students as identified in their Individual Education Plan. (B)(1) The statewide assessment program must include the subjects of English/language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies in grades three through eight, as delineated in Section 5918320(B), to be first administered in 2009, and endofcourse tests for gateway courses awarded selected by the State Board of Education and approved by the Education Oversight Committee for federal accountability, which award units of credit in English/language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. Student performance targets must be established following the 2009 administration. The assessment program must be used for school and school district accountability purposes beginning with the 20082009 school year. The publication of the annual school and school district report card may be delayed for the 20082009 school year until no later than February 15, 2010. A student’s score on an endofyear assessment may not be the sole criterion for placing the student on academic probation, retaining the student in his current grade, or requiring the student to attend summer school. Beginning with the graduating class of 2010, students are required to pass a high school credit course in science and a course in United States history in which endofcourse examinations are administered to receive the state high school diploma. Beginning with the graduating class of 2015, students are no longer required to meet the exit examination requirements set forth in this section and State Regulation to earn a South Carolina high school diploma. (2) 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 pursuant to this section 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