Upstate Employability Credential Initiative

Upstate Employability Credential:

South Carolina has roughly 100,000 students with disabilities serviced under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), of which the majority are able to earn a State high school diploma. Given the varying levels of student achievement, some students are unable to complete this required high school coursework. As a result, there is a need to provide an alternative option for students with disabilities to demonstrate their ability to transition into the work community. The uniform state-recognized SC High School Credential will be aligned with the State’s Profile of the South Carolina Graduate and to a newly created course of study for these students with disabilities whose Individualized Education Program (IEP) team determines this course of study is appropriate.

The purpose of the SC High School Credential is to provide equitable job-readiness opportunities for these students throughout the state, ensure they have evidence of employability skills, and honor the work they have undertaken in our public schools.