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Board approves flexible rules for new arts-education diploma endorsement
Summary
The board voted to allow any outside-the-school-day arts activities — rehearsals, club events, field trips and comparable documented out-of-school experiences — to count toward the 40-hour requirement for a new state arts endorsement.
The Columbus County Board of Education voted to adopt a district approach to the State Board of Education’s new arts-education diploma endorsement, allowing students to count hours spent outside the regular school day toward the 40-hour out-of-school requirement.
Kelly Jones, the district’s presenter on the endorsement, told the board the state requires four arts courses plus 40 documented hours of arts-related activity outside the school day. Jones recommended that any hours spent outside the school day be acceptable — for example, after-school rehearsals, participation in community or church ensembles when the student performs or leads, and weekend field trips — provided teachers and guidance counselors document the hours.
Board member Ms. Grice moved to approve the policy language and Mr. Worley seconded. The motion passed without recorded opposition.
Jones said the requirement applies to the current group of seniors who are the first cohort eligible for the endorsement; those students may document eligible activities from their earlier high-school years. The board directed administrators and teachers to collaborate on verification procedures; Jones said the district would rely on teacher and counselor documentation and would not attempt an exhaustive preapproved list in order to avoid excluding legitimate local activities.
