Some S.C. schools may be passing Federal standards if testing rules changed

More schools in South Carolina will meet federal education goals under a scoring system that has received initial approval. A subcommittee of the Education Oversight Committee voted Monday to align passing scores on the state’s new standardized tests with what the state considered passing on the 10-year-old Palmetto Achievement Challenge Tests.

Results of the high-stakes tests are used to determine how schools are progressing toward state and national accountability goals. Under the previous, four-category system, the state rated “basic” and above as passing.

But No Child Left Behind judged schools only on the top two tiers - proficient and advanced. Scores on the Palmetto Assessment of State Standards will be
given as “not met,“ “met” and exemplary.

The vote would align “met” with “basic.“