Education Department shall award a special education diploma instead of a certificate of attendance

A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-39-105 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL AWARD A SPECIAL EDUCATION DIPLOMA INSTEAD OF A CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE OR OTHER CERTIFICATE TO A HANDICAPPED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT LAWFULLY ASSIGNED TO A SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM AND WHO COMPLETES AN INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PLAN IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES BEGINNING WITH THE 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR, TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO DEVELOP AND TO ADOPT RELATED ALTERNATE ASSESSMENTS TO EXISTING STATEWIDE ASSESSMENTS, TO PROVIDE THESE ALTERNATE ASSESSMENTS MUST BE ADMINISTERED TO SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, TO PROVIDE A SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENT'S INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAM MUST SERVE AS AN ALTERNATE ASSESSMENT FOR THE STUDENT, AND TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION DIPLOMAS AND THE STATUS OF RECIPIENTS OF SPECIAL EDUCATION DIPLOMAS AS BEING HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES; TO AMEND SECTION 59-33-20, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS CONCERNING SPECIAL EDUCATION FOR HANDICAPPED CHILDREN, SO AS TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMINOLOGY.