South Carolina Code of Regulations
Chapter 43 - STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
Article 19 - INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM
Section 43-231 - Defined Program K-5

Universal Citation: SC Code Regs 43-231

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 3, March 22, 2024

Each school district board of trustees shall ensure quality schooling having 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, Kindergarten

The curriculum for children PreK-K shall consist of experiences and activities which will enhance their physical, emotional, social, and intellectual growth and development and help each child attain, at his own rate of speed, the educational goals set for the primary school.

II. Basic Program/Curriculum, Grades 1-5

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 [FN1]

Mathematics

Science [FN2]

Social Studies [FN2]

Health and Safety [FN3]

Physical Education [FN4]

Visual & Performing Arts [FN5]

Foreign Language [FN6]

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.

B. 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 K-5.

C. Guidance Program

A comprehensive guidance program including career awareness, is required in schools having any combination of grades K-5.

D. 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.

III. Innovative Approaches

A school encompassing any combination of grades K-5 may implement an innovative approach if it is approved by the local board of trustees and is incorporated in the school and district plans.

IV. Class Size, Grades K-5

A. The average pupil-teacher ratio in any school shall not exceed 28 to 1 based on average daily membership. The total number of teachers shall include all regular, special area, and resource teachers whose pupils are counted in the regular membership.

B. Each district shall attain an average pupil-teacher ratio based on average daily membership in the basic skills of reading and mathematics in Grades 1-3 as 21 to 1.

C. Teacher aides may be counted in computing the ratio at the rate of .5 per aide if they work under the supervision of a teacher and make up no more than 10 percent of the total staff. Excluded from the computation are the following:
1. Teachers of self-contained special education classes and kindergarten, principals, assistant principals, library/media specialists, and guidance counselors.

2. Pupils in self-contained special education classes and kindergarten.

Maximum class size shall not exceed the following:

a.

Grades K-3

30:1

b.

Grades 4-5

30:1

(English/language arts and mathematics)

35:1

(other subjects)

40:1

(physical education and music [FN*])

[FN*] Exception: When band, chorus, and orchestra require rehearsals of the entire membership, any number is acceptable if adequate space is available.

V. Additional Regulatory Requirements

Additional regulatory requirements related to the basic program include, but are not limited to, the following:

Gifted and Talented Regulation (43-220)

School-to-Work Regulation (43-225)

Health Education Requirement Regulation (43-238)

Summer Programs Regulation (43-240)

Special Education Regulations [FN*] (43-243 to 43-243.6)

Early Childhood Assistance Programs-Grade K-3 (43-267)

Academic Assistance Regulations-Grades 4-12 (43-268)

VI. Student Records

1. Each school shall have an appropriate means of reporting academic achievement to parents.

2. The district shall maintain accurate student data according to the pupil accounting system prescribed by the State Department of Education. A record of all dropouts shall be filed by school, grade, race and sex. The superintendent shall verify the accuracy of the enrollment attendance, membership by category, and dropout reports submitted to the Office of Finance, State Department of Education.

VII. Emergency Closings

Full days missed because of weather or other circumstances must be made up. Early dismissal days shall be reported to the Director, Office of Organizational Development.

[FN1] English/Language Arts shall include reading, writing, listening and speaking.

[FN2] Environmental Education is required as an integral part of science, social studies, and health.

[FN3] Health and Safety shall include components as outlined in the Comprehensive Health Education Act

[FN4] Students who are physically or mentally unable to take the physical education course provided for the regular student shall take a suitably modified course in physical education. (Section 59-29-80, S.C. Code of Laws, 1976, as amended.)

[FN5] Visual and Performing Arts shall include, but not be limited to, music and art.

[FN6] Foreign Language as a separate course is recommended but not required. If a separate course is not offered, foreign languages should be incorporated in the basic curriculum.

[FN*] A teacher of children with disabilities in the resource or itinerant model shall be certified or have a permit in the area of handicapping condition in which the majority are classified, or be certified in one area of handicapping condition in which the teacher is teaching and successfully complete six semester hours annually toward certification in the area in which the majority of students are classified. Pupils participating in self-contained programs shall be of the same category of disability. The teacher must be certified or hold an out-of-field permit in the area of handicapping condition of the pupils served.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. South Carolina may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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