Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Curriculum topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee approves submission of ‘Transition to Algebra’ innovative course to state for Horry County high schools
Summary
Horry County Schools will seek South Carolina Department of Education approval for a new innovative high-school math course, 'Transition to Algebra,' aimed at supporting students who struggle with algebra.
The Curriculum and Instruction Committee approved forwarding a request to the South Carolina Department of Education to designate a locally developed innovative course titled "Transition to Algebra" for high school credit under the state's diploma pathways program.
April Scott, the district’s executive director for high schools, told the committee the course was developed by a committee of high-school math teachers and administrators to provide a bridge between geometry-with-statistics and Algebra I for students who typically would have taken foundations or intermediate courses.
"We feel that students would take geometry with statistics followed by an innovative course that we're calling Transition to Algebra," April Scott said, describing the course as a precursor to Algebra I that integrates standards from both geometry and algebra to support students who struggle with math.
Why it matters: South Carolina changed its high-school math sequence beginning in the 2025–26 school year; district staff said the innovative course would align with the diploma-pathways legislation and state guidance and could provide a locally approved path to improve algebra readiness and diploma attainment.
Scott told the committee that Horry County must submit course sequence information, pathway progression and teacher certification requirements to the South Carolina Department of Education. The district will require signatures from the school board chair and the superintendent on the application. The state typically responds within 30 days, Scott said; if approved, the course can be used for high-school math credit for up to three years before resubmission is required.
Committee member Wendy Hodges moved the recommendation to submit the innovative-course application; the motion was seconded and approved by the committee.
Background details provided at the meeting referenced state legislation enacted May 19, 2017, that created personalized diploma pathways and Department of Education guidance issued May 25, 2018, which set application requirements for innovative courses and diploma pathways.
Next steps: With committee approval, staff will prepare the application and seek the required signatures for submission to the South Carolina Department of Education.
