Education Officials Call for New Benchmarks for Math, Science

The state Board of Education has approved a timeline that calls for final approval next March of new math and reading benchmarks for South Carolina students.

The tight turnaround for replacing Common Core standards relies on panels writing the standards to turn in drafts by mid-October.

Wednesday's vote followed hours of debate over whether directions the panels received from state Department of Education officials abide by state law.

That law calls for new math and reading standards next school year following a review of current standards, which are Common Core.

Board Chairman Barry Bolen contends that means the process must begin with Common Core. Superintendent Mick Zais says there will be no simple tweaking of Common Core standards, but they will be among those considered.