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South Carolina Credit Act

Spring 2007, for the first time, two Released Time Bible Education (RTBE) programs in South Carolina are being offered for elective academic credit at the high school level. These programs in Clarendon and Horry C.A.R.E.S. were made possible because the Legislature passed the South Carolina Released Time Credit Act in 2006. The initiative for this action was provided by a group of organizations lead by School Ministries and was precipitated by the fact that no RTBE program had ever been approved for credit under the transfer credit provision allowed for in state law. The Act specifies requirements which must be met in addition to those applicable to all RTBE programs including the course being taught by a currently certified teacher.  

Released Bible education programs have operated in South Carolina for over 60 years bringing evangelistic Bible education to public school students primarily at the elementary and middle school levels. There has been a strong desire among individuals who run these programs and parents to see released time programs at the high school level. While high school programs have existed, they have served less than 1,000 students statewide. The difficulty in reaching high school students with the released time program is that the typical high school student’s schedule is full, because of the number of credit hours that are required for high school students to graduate. To address this situation, the only feasible approach was to obtain an addition to South Carolina law that would provide a legal way to allow high school students to obtain elective academic credit for attending released time programs.

It is hoped that the success of this SC effort will encourage Christians in other states to promote similar legislation.

To email for more information, Click Here, or phone School Ministries at 803-772-5224.