EOCEPThe End of Course Examination Program (EOCEP) is a statewide assessment program of end of course tests for gateway courses awarded units of credit in English/language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. The EOCEP encourages instruction in the specific academic standards for the courses, encourages student achievement, and documents the level of students’ mastery of the academic standards.
To meet federal accountability requirements, the EOCEP in mathematics, English/language arts and science will be administered to all public school students by the third year of high school, including those students as required by the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) and by Title 1 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). To earn a South Carolina high school diploma, students are required to pass a high school credit course in science, and a high school credit course in United States history in which the state’s end of course examinations are administered. Currently these courses are Biology 1 (science) and United States History and Constitution (social studies). Gateway courses in English/language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies will be defined by the State Board of Education. EOCEP examination scores count 20 percent in the calculation of the student’s final grade in gateway courses. Defined gateway courses currently include the following courses or courses with other names and activity codes in which the same academic standards are taught: Algebra 1, Intermediate Algebra, Biology 1, English 1, and United States History and the Constitution. |