Bill 1031

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                    1031
Ratification Number:            295
Act Number:                     274
Type of Legislation:            General Bill GB
Introducing Body:               Senate
Introduced Date:                19980212
Primary Sponsor:                Martin
All Sponsors:                   Martin, Alexander, Bryan and
                                Waldrep 
Drafted Document Number:        gjk\21182sd.98
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:   19980310
Date of Last Amendment:         19980305
Governor's Action:              S
Date of Governor's Action:      19980407
Subject:                        STAR diploma, requirements for
                                high school graduates, honors courses;
                                Schools and School Districts,
                                Curriculum

Body    Date      Action Description                       Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  _______________________________________  _______ ____________

------  19980423  Act No. A274
------  19980407  Signed by Governor
------  19980401  Ratified R295
House   19980310  Concurred in Senate amendment,
                  enrolled for ratification
Senate  19980305  House amendments amended,
                  returned to House with amendment
House   19980220  Read third time, returned to Senate
                  with amendment
House   19980219  Read second time, unanimous consent
                  for third reading on the next
                  Legislative day
House   19980219  Amended
House   19980218  Introduced, read first time,
                  placed on Calendar without reference
Senate  19980218  Read third time, sent to House
Senate  19980217  Read second time
Senate  19980212  Introduced, read first time,
                  placed on Calendar without reference

(A274, R295, S1031)

AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT FOR THE 1997-98 AND 1998-99 SCHOOL YEARS ONLY, GRADUATING SENIORS FROM HIGH SCHOOL WHO HAVE COMPLETED TWENTY-TWO UNITS OF CREDIT SHALL BE GRANTED A WAIVER FROM THE NEW COMPUTER SCIENCE UNIT OR THE FOURTH MATHEMATICS UNIT, OR BOTH, REQUIRED FOR A STAR DIPLOMA, PROVIDED ALL OTHER REQUIREMENTS ARE MET; AND TO AMEND SECTION 59-39-105, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO STAR DIPLOMAS AND THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A STAR DIPLOMA, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT HONORS COURSES SHALL BE INCLUDED, ALONG WITH ADVANCED PLACEMENT AND INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE COURSES, IN THOSE COURSES WHERE GRADE POINT AVERAGES ARE ADJUSTED TO REFLECT GREATER DIFFICULTY.

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

Waiver of certain requirements

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 59-39-105 of the 1976 Code relating to the requirements for a STAR diploma, for the 1997-98 and 1998-99 school years only, graduating seniors from high school who have completed twenty-two units of credit shall be granted a waiver from the new computer science unit or the fourth mathematics unit, or both, required by Section 59-39-105 for a STAR diploma, provided all other requirements are met. These graduating seniors shall be entitled also to a STAR scholarship as provided in Section 59-39-180.

Honors courses adjusted

SECTION 2. Section 59-39-105 of the 1976 Code, as added by Section 17A, Act 155 of 1997, is amended by adding at the end:

For purposes of this section, honors courses shall be included, along with advanced placement and international baccalaureate courses, in those courses where grade point averages are adjusted to reflect greater difficulty.

Time effective

SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Approved the 7th day of April, 1998.