Act 155 Diploma Petition Request Form

Graduation Requirements

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Petition Request Process:

Phone, Mail or Fax Requests Cannot Be Accepted

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 59-18-310, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO PETITIONS FOR OBTAINING HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS BY FORMER PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO FAILED TO GRADUATE SOLELY FOR NOT MEETING EXIT EXAM REQUIREMENTS, SO AS TO ELIMINATE A DEADLINE FOR FILING THESE PETITIONS, TO EXTEND THE DATE BY WHICH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL REPORT RELATED INFORMATION TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND TO ELIMINATE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE DEPARTMENT ADVERTISE THE AVAILABILITY OF THESE PETITIONS AFTER DECEMBER 31, 2017.

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

Petition deadline eliminated, reporting deadline extended, advertising requirement revised

SECTION    1.    Section 59-18-310(B)(2) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 155 of 2014, is further amended to read:

"(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 Department of Education in accordance with department procedures. Petitions under this section must be submitted to the local school district. 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, 2019, 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. The department shall advertise the provisions of this item in at least one daily newspaper of general circulation in the area of each school district within forty-five days after this enactment. After enactment, the department may continue to advertise the provisions of this item, but it shall not be required to advertise after December 31, 2017.