CHAPTER 48 - SPECIAL SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS - South Carolina Statutes

Title 59 - Education

CHAPTER 48.

SPECIAL SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS

SECTION 59-48-10. Establishment of school.

There is established a special school of science and mathematics for the purpose of fostering educational development of high school juniors and seniors in this State who are academically talented in the areas of science and mathematics and who show promise of exceptional development in these subjects. The school shall provide accelerated instruction in mathematics and science in a residential educational setting.

SECTION 59-48-20. Board of trustees and Board of Trustees of the Special School of Science and Mathematics; appointment; term of office; compensation.

(A) The school is under the management and control of a board of trustees consisting of eleven members, as follows:

(1) one member from each congressional district appointed by the Governor;

(2) two members appointed from this State at large by the Governor;

(3) the Chairman of the Joint Legislative Committee to Study the State's Public Education System, ex officio, or his designee;

(4) the State Superintendent of Education, ex officio, or his designee;

(5) the Executive Director of the Commission on Higher Education, ex officio, or his designee.

Members appointed by the Governor shall serve for four years and until their successors are appointed and qualify, except that of those first appointed, the members representing the First, Second, and Third Congressional Districts and one at-large member shall serve for two years and until their successors are appointed and qualify. Members shall receive mileage, subsistence, and per diem allowed by law for members of state boards, committees, and commissions.

In his appointments, the Governor shall seek to obtain the best qualified persons from the business, industrial, and educational communities, including mathematicians and scientists.

The board of trustees shall explore use of the facilities of Coker College for the school's campus.

(B) The Board of Trustees of the Special School of Science and Mathematics shall also include the following six additional members:

(1) the president of the South Carolina Governor's School of Science and Mathematics Foundation, Inc., to serve ex officio;

(2) the provost or vice president for academic affairs from each of the following higher education research institutions to serve ex officio:

(a) Clemson University;

(b) the University of South Carolina;

(c) the Medical University of South Carolina. The provost or vice president for academic affairs of each of these three institutions shall serve as nonvoting members of the board;

(3) two members appointed from the State at large by the Governor to serve for terms of four years each and until their successors are appointed and qualify. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment in the manner of original appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term.

SECTION 59-48-30. Course of study.

The board shall establish the standard course of study for the school. This course of study shall include instruction in the areas which constitute the usual high school curriculum and provide in-depth instruction in science and mathematics.

SECTION 59-48-35. Requirements for diploma.

The students enrolled in the Special School of Science and Mathematics who earn a total of twenty units of credit distributed as specified in the Defined Minimum Program for South Carolina school districts, who pass the exit examination described in Section 59-30-10(f), and who meet the school's requirements for graduation are eligible to receive a state high school diploma. The board of the Special School, in its discretion, may issue its own high school diploma.

SECTION 59-48-40. Admission criteria, standards, and procedures.

The school shall admit students in accordance with criteria, standards, and the procedures established by the board. To be eligible to be considered for admission, an applicant must be a legal resident of this State. Eligibility to remain enrolled in the school terminates when a student becomes a nonresident of this State. The board shall ensure, insofar as possible without jeopardizing admission standards, that an equal number of students are admitted from each of the state's congressional districts.

SECTION 59-48-50. Administrative officer for school.

The chief administrative officer of the school shall be the director, who must be appointed by the board to serve at its pleasure. The director shall administer all affairs of the school, subject to policies, rules, and regulations adopted by the board. The director shall serve as the secretary to the board of trustees and shall report at least annually to the board concerning the state of the school.

SECTION 59-48-60. Adoption of policies and regulations.

The board of trustees may adopt policies and regulations as it considers necessary for the operation and management of the school.

SECTION 59-48-70. Endowment fund.

The board may establish and maintain an endowment fund for the school.