SC High School Exit Exam Eliminated
Monday, July 28, 2014
Former Students May Petition for Diplomas

S.C. REQUIREMENT FOR HIGH SCHOOL EXIT EXAMS ELIMINATED, FORMER STUDENTS MAY PETITION FOR DIPLOMAS

The South Carolina General Assembly unanimously passed Act 155 during the recently concluded legislative session thereby ending the requirement for exit examinations for high school students. The Act was signed into law by Governor Nikki Haley on April 14, 2014. The Act states in part “Beginning with the graduating class of 2015, students are no longer required to meet the exit examination requirements set forth 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.

In order to facilitate the requirements of Act 155, Orangeburg Consolidated School District Five has created an application form that can be filled out by a petitioner who meets the requirements described above. Please review the attached documents and if you meet the requirements to request a diploma under Act 155, complete the Application Form and follow the guidelines for submission.

Click Here to view a copy of the Act 155 High School Diploma Application for Petition

Click Here to view a copy of a press release describing a summary of Act 155

Click Here to view a copy of the South Carolina Department of Education’s FAQs on Act 155

Click Here to view a copy of OCSD5’s Guidelines for Act 155 Diploma Petitions