The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) supports innovations that improve student achievement. Occasionally, State Board of Education (SBE) Regulations or SCDE policies may seem to impede the implementation of educational innovations. When this occurs, the SCDE may be able to waive compliance from regulations.

The following excerpt from SBE Regulation 43-261(C)  District and School Planning states:
Upon request of a district board of trustees or its designee, the State Board of Education may waive any regulation that would impede the implementation of an approved district strategic plan or school renewal plan. The State Board of Education may delegate to the State Superintendent the ability to waive regulatory requirements for similarly situated school districts and schools."

If you have questions about the waiver process or would like to explore whether a waiver is needed, please contact the SCDE, Office of Federal and State Accountability, at waivers@ed.sc.gov.

Flexibility Waiver Templates

Resource	Description	Submission
Competency-Based Education Waiver (coming soon)	Competency-Based Education waiver allows districts to obtain flexibility from certain regulations so they can implement personalized, mastery-based learning where students progress by demonstrating skills and knowledge. A Competency-Based Education waiver is for the K-12 district and must align with the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. This waiver is due no later than March 1st.	waivers@ed.sc.gov
Competency-Based Education Evaluation (coming soon)	A continuation waiver is required and must be completed no later than July 1 of the program's second year of implementation.	waivers@ed.sc.gov
District Proficiency-Based System Plan Application	A proficiency-based application should be completed for any district using a proficiency-based system for initial credit, credit through prior knowledge, or credit recovery. Proficiency-based applications are approved for the duration of the district strategic plan, which runs for 5 years. This application is due no later than April 30th.	Formstack
District Proficiency-Based System Plan Evaluation for Updated Plans	Allows schools with grades 9-12 to award credit for a locally designed subject area course if the course is aligned with current state academic standards.	Formstack
Innovation Course Application	Allows schools with grades 9-12 to award credit for a locally designed subject area course if the course is aligned with current state academic standards.	innovativecourseapp@ed.sc.gov
General Regulation Waiver	General regulation waivers are for those impediments to the District and School Renewal Plans.	waivers@ed.sc.gov
School of Innovation Waiver (coming soon)	Allows a school(s) to create avenues for new, innovative, and more flexible ways of educating students within its walls. This waiver is due no later than March 1st.	waivers@ed.sc.gov
School of Innovation Continuation Waiver (coming soon)	A continuation waiver is required every year and must be completed no later than July 1.	waivers@ed.sc.gov

Resources and Presentations

Resource	Description
Historic Waiver Request Log	This report contains all waivers requested by districts dating back to 2012.
Proficiency-Based Systems Manual	The latest framework on how to format, organize and explain your proficiency-based systems within your schools.
Proficiency-Based Systems World Language Guidance	This guidance will assist in writing the World Language as a Credit Through Prior Knowledge flexibility pathway in the Proficiency-Based Systems plan.
SC Flexibility	The most recent guidance on the available flexibilities and how to use them.
SC Innovation Station	SC Innovation Station provides South Carolina educators with innovative teaching strategies with high impact, resources, and tools to enhance classroom instruction and student success.
SC Playbook on Flexibilities (coming soon)	Coming Soon

Statutes and Regulations

Resource	Description
§59-19-350	School of Innovation state statute
§59-19-360	Competency-Based Education state statute
State Board of Education Regulations	A complete list of all State Board of Education regulations