Act 155 (H. 3919) passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Nikki R. Haley on April 14, 2014, states in part “Beginning with the graduating class of 2015, students are no longer required to meet the exit examination requirements set forth in in this section and State Regulation to earn a South Carolina high school diploma."
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 may petition the local school board to determine the student’s eligibility to receive a high school diploma. The elimination of the exit exam (BSAP, HSAP) requirement is retroactive to the graduating class of 1990. The local school board will transmit diploma requests to the South Carolina Department of Education in accordance with Department procedures, which are included below.
Persons eligible to receive a South Carolina high school diploma under these provisions must have met all other graduation requirements at the time of his or her high school attendance. All eligible candidates' names must be verified and submitted by the local school board. The Department will not accept requests directly from a diploma candidate. Petitions should be directed to the local school board based upon the high school that the eligible candidate attended. The process for completing petitions will vary according to local district policy.
The South Carolina Department of Education will begin processing requests from local school boards as soon as possible. Since this law applies to the graduating class of 2015, students in the graduating class of 2014 who are denied graduation solely for failing to meet the exit exam requirement may petition their local school board for a high school diploma as soon as they are no longer enrolled in public school, as outlined in the law.
Please see the FAQ below and contact diploma@ed.sc.gov with any questions.
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