(A)(1) A school district board of trustees may authorize, to be taught in the district's high schools, an elective course concerning the history and literature of the Old Testament era and an elective course concerning the history and literature of the New Testament era.
(2) Each course offered must be taught in an objective manner with no attempt to influence the students as to either the truth or falsity of the materials presented.
(3) Students must be awarded the same number of Carnegie units that are awarded to other classes of similar duration.
(4) A particular version of the Old or New Testament to be used in either course may be recommended by the board of trustees; provided, that the teacher of the course and students enrolled in the course may use any version of the Old and New Testaments.
(B) The board of trustees of a district that offers a course pursuant to this section must:
(1) maintain supervision and control of the course;
(2) hire any new teachers that it determines are required to teach the course in the same manner all other teachers are hired;
(3) assure that all teachers teaching the course are certified by the State; and
(4) make no inquiry into the religious beliefs, or the lack of religious beliefs, held by a teacher when determining which teacher shall teach the class.
(C) The State Board of Education shall develop and adopt academic standards and appropriate instructional materials that must be used by high schools offering a course pursuant to this section. These academic standards and instructional materials must ensure that the courses do not disparage or encourage a commitment to a set of religious beliefs.
(D) The academic standards and appropriate instructional materials developed and adopted by the board must:
(1) be designed to help students gain a greater appreciation of the Old Testament and the New Testament as great works of literature, art, and music; assist students in gaining greater insight into the many historical events recorded in the Old Testament and the New Testament; and provide students with a greater awareness of the many social customs that the Old Testament and the New Testament have significantly influenced; and
(2) provide that the Old Testament is the primary text for the course exploring the history and literature of the Old Testament era and that the New Testament is the primary text for the course exploring the history and literature of the New Testament era.
(E) The academic standards developed and adopted may provide that students may be assigned period-appropriate secular historical and literary works to supplement the primary text.
HISTORY: 2007 Act No. 102, Section 1, eff June 18, 2007.
Structure South Carolina Code of Laws
Chapter 29 - Subjects Of Instruction
Section 59-29-10. Required subjects.
Section 59-29-15. Teaching cursive writing and multiplication tables required.
Section 59-29-20. Required subjects; nature and effect of alcoholic drinks and narcotics.
Section 59-29-21. Guidelines for career guidance.
Section 59-29-30. Required subjects; Alcohol and Narcotics Education Week.
Section 59-29-35. Home school awareness week; admission opportunities.
Section 59-29-50. Required subjects; traffic laws.
Section 59-29-55. Instruction on Black history.
Section 59-29-60. Required subjects; program of safety instruction.
Section 59-29-70. Required subjects; instruction in fire prevention.
Section 59-29-80. Required subjects; courses in physical education; alternatives; exemptions.
Section 59-29-90. Physical education courses in teacher training colleges.
Section 59-29-110. Instruction in military science and tactics.
Section 59-29-130. Public institutions of higher learning; required instruction; applicability.
Section 59-29-160. Two units of mathematics requisite for graduation.
Section 59-29-165. Instruction in personal finance.
Section 59-29-170. Programs for gifted and talented students.
Section 59-29-179. Identification of higher order thinking and problem solving skills.
Section 59-29-180. Emphasis on higher order problem solving skills.
Section 59-29-181. Selection of tests for statewide testing program.
Section 59-29-182. Review of procedures to assess higher order thinking and problem solving skills.
Section 59-29-183. In-service training programs.
Section 59-29-190. Advanced placement courses for academically talented students.
Section 59-29-200. Pupil-teacher ratios.
Section 59-29-210. Emphasis on teaching as profession.
Section 59-29-220. Arts education curricula.
Section 59-29-230. Old and New Testament era courses.
Section 59-29-240. Civics test required; report.
Section 59-29-410. Development of high school financial literacy programs; areas of instruction.
Section 59-29-430. Incorporation into Academic Standards of Instruction.
Section 59-29-440. South Carolina Financial Literacy Initiative established.
Section 59-29-480. Board membership; terms; vacancies.
Section 59-29-490. Powers and duties.
Section 59-29-500. Employment of Director of the Financial Literacy Office and staff.
Section 59-29-520. Office of South Carolina Financial Literacy established.
Section 59-29-530. Applications for grants; criteria.
Section 59-29-540. Use of grant funds.
Section 59-29-550. Carrying forward funds into following fiscal year.
Section 59-29-560. Disbursement of and accountability for funds; penalties.
Section 59-29-570. Implementation review; grantee participation; reports.