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Board approves 2025–26 student handbook updates including promotion criteria and extracurricular eligibility
Summary
Trustees approved changes to student handbooks across district schools, including middle school promotion criteria requiring passing 50% of core academic credits and high school course and recognition updates; the revisions were reviewed by building administrators and a district advisory committee.
The Richland County CUSD 1 Board voted to adopt updates to the district's student handbooks for the 2025–26 school year after administrators described building‑level changes and a district review process.
Key changes include a middle school promotion criterion that requires students to earn at least 15 of 20 credits and to pass 50% of core academic credits (two quarters of math, two quarters of language arts, one quarter of science and one quarter of social studies). Administrators said the change was intended to prevent students who fail core coursework from advancing without minimum competency in those subjects.
At the high school level, changes include adding weight training as an option to meet physical education requirements, listing dual‑credit course options (calculus, statistics and potentially college algebra) and adding work‑based learning and dual credit CEO and employment skills courses as resource management credit options. The high school handbook was also updated to reflect recently approved changes to honor society recognition thresholds (for summa, magna and cum laude distinctions) from a prior board action earlier in the year. The high school also added updated wording on student appearance and included trap shooting as a co‑curricular club activity.
The early learning center (ELC) handbook saw only minor front‑page updates to staff names and office locations because it was substantially revised last year. District employees said the handbook edits were developed at building level and then reviewed by a district committee and a public advisory meeting on May 7 that included parents and staff.
Why it matters: the handbook edits establish promotion thresholds and clarify course and extracurricular options for students and families. The board approved the changes by roll call vote.
The district will publish the updated handbooks and communicate changes to families and staff ahead of the new school year.
