South Carolina Code of Regulations › Chapter 43 - STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION › Article 19 - INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM › Section 43-232 - Defined Program 6-8

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 6, June 28, 2024
Each school district board of trustees shall ensure quality
				schooling by providing a rigorous, relevant curriculum for all students.
Each school district shall examine the academic achievement
				standards adopted by the South Carolina State Board of Education. Elementary,
				middle, and high school faculty and staff shall work together to ensure that
				students are prepared to achieve these standards.
I. Basic Program/Curriculum for Grades 6-8
Instruction in the subject areas shall be scheduled for each
				student for a minimum of 1800 minutes or 30 hours per week including lunch, or
				the equivalent time on a yearly basis. The subjects shall include, but not be
				limited to:
A. Subject Areas
English/Language Arts (These courses shall include skill
				development in reading, writing, listening and speaking.)
Mathematics
Sciences (Environmental education is required as an integral
				part of the science curriculum.)
Social Studies (Environmental education is required as part of
				the social studies curriculum; eighth grade social studies must include South
				Carolina history.)
Health (This includes components as outlined in the
				Comprehensive Health Education Act, which includes a minimum of 250 minutes of
				comprehensive health instruction for at least nine (9) weeks annually.)
Physical Education (Students who are physically or mentally
				unable to take the physical education course provided for students shall take a
				suitably modified course in physical education. If a student is unable to
				complete the physical education course then the course shall be modified to
				meet the educational ability of the student. §
										59-29-80
				)
Visual/Performing Arts (These courses shall include, but may
				not be limited to, music and art.)
Exploratory Programs (At least one elective in an occupational
				or exploratory program shall be scheduled. Programs should include key concepts
				in areas of digital literacy; computing systems; networks and the internet; and
				data and analysis.)
Foreign Language (A separate course is recommended, but not
				required. If a separate course is not offered, foreign languages should be
				incorporated in the basic curriculum.)
Schools must determine the amount of instructional time in a
				subject area as approved by the local board of trustees and the State
				Superintendent of Education. The school day must be at least six hours
				including lunch, or its equivalent weekly.
A school which includes any combination of grades 5-8 when
				housed with grades 7 or 8 may elect for all of the combination of grades 5-8 to
				meet, on a subject by subject basis, the minimum instructional times or the
				minimum curriculum requirements for either grades 4-5 or grades 6-8, unless
				otherwise prohibited by law.
B. High School Credit
When approved by the principal and the parents, a student
				promoted to the seventh or eighth grade may take units of ninth grade or higher
				work for high school credit. The high school courses offered must be limited to
				courses that are currently in the 9-12 section of the
Activity Coding
				System for the Student Information System
with the exception of
				physical education and health education courses. It is expected that students
				taking courses for high school credit have been taught and mastered the middle
				school level standards prior to taking the courses for high school credit. The
				number of high school credits permitted at the middle school or junior high
				school level must be determined by the local school district.
C. Alcohol and Drugs
Through special instruction, schools shall provide
				age-appropriate instruction regarding the dangers in the use and abuse of
				alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Instruction shall emphasize problems related
				to their use and effects upon the total community. Instruction shall be offered
				in all schools of the State and shall be studied and presented as thoroughly
				and in the same manner as all other required subjects in grades 6-8.
D. Guidance Program/School-to-Work
			 Initiative
1. A comprehensive guidance
			 program, including career development, is required in schools having any
			 combination of grades 6-8.
2. Each
			 school district shall offer a range of mentoring opportunities for students
			 beginning no later than the seventh grade. Students participating in any of the
			 work-based programs shall have the written permission of their parents or legal
			 guardians in order to engage in such experiences. Adult supervision shall be
			 provided for mentoring opportunities.
3. Curriculum activities consisting of
			 educational opportunities, career information resources and career development
			 programs shall be included in subject areas for grades 6-8.
4. Beginning in grade 6, students and their
			 parents and/or legal guardians in collaboration with appropriate school
			 personnel shall prepare a plan for a variety of career options in which the
			 student has an interest.
5. In
			 grade 7, students and their parents and/or legal guardians in collaboration
			 with appropriate school personnel shall revise career planning records in which
			 the student has an interest.
6. In
			 grade 8, students and their parents and/or legal guardians in collaboration
			 with appropriate school personnel shall review and revise the career planning
			 record. The record shall include a high school course of study based on a major
			 plan and an alternate plan for career options in which the student has an
			 interest and the postsecondary programs of study related to achieving a career
			 goal.
E. Library/Media
			 Program
Library media programs and technology resources are required
				and accessible to all students and staff and are appropriate to achieve the
				strategies and goals in each school renewal or district strategic plan.