Teachers and schools seeking to provide personalized learning experiences for students tailored to meet differing educational needs, environments and interests may seek flexibility. School districts may request and use flexibility to facilitate academic success.
Proficiency-Based Systems
State Board of Education (SBE) Regulation 43-234 allows districts to submit a proficiency-based, system-wide application to the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE). The application provides an overview of the district proficiency-based system, often managed as an online educational delivery system.
A proficiency-based application should be completed for any school 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 or school renewal plan each 5-year cycle. The first year of a new 5-year district strategic or school renewal plan, a new proficiency-based application must be submitted. By April 30 of each year, districts will complete an evaluation of their proficiency-based system plan and upload in the Strategic Renewal Application.
If a district has an approved proficiency-based application during a 5-year cycle but have a slight change in procedures or resources, please file an amendment by e-mail to proficiency@ed.sc.gov.
Email proficiency@ed.sc.gov for additional information.
Innovative Programs: Innovative Approaches and Locally Designed Subject Area Courses
SBE Regulations 43-231 and 43-232 permit schools to implement an innovative approach in grades K–5 and 6–8 if the innovative approach is approved by the local board of trustees and is incorporated in to the district strategic and school renewal plans.
SBE Regulation 43-234 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 for the particular subject area and approved by the local board of trustees. The course will then be reviewed for approval by the State Superintendent of Education.
Email innovativecourseapp@ed.sc.gov for additional information.
Locally Designed Subject Area Course applications are to be submitted to innovativecourseapp@ed.sc.gov.
Additional Flexibility Opportunities:
- The Flexibility Proviso in the 2017–18 Appropriations Bill 1.26 and 1A.14 allows some flexibility. All school districts and special schools of this state may suspend professional staffing ratios and expenditure regulations and guidelines at the sub-function and service area level, except for four-year old programs and programs serving students with disabilities who have Individualized Education Programs.
- According to SBE Regulation 43-261, “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. The Superintendent will report regularly to the State Board of Education all waivers issued by the Superintendent. The State Department of Education will maintain a central electronic location of all waivers issued by the State Board of Education and the Superintendent.”
A district may also seek a Waiver to receive additional flexibility options. For more information, visit the “Waivers” tab on State Accountability’s web page. (/districts-schools/state-accountability/waiver-requests/)
Additional Resources & Information
