South Carolina is set to lead the nation in education reform following the General Assembly’s final approval of House Bill 5073. The legislation, which now awaits Governor Henry McMaster’s signature, prohibits K-12 public schools and districts from implementing “grade-floor” policies. These mandates previously prevented teachers from assigning grades lower than a specific minimum, regardless of a student’s actual performance or effort.
The move follows a 2025 report revealing that at least 18 school districts in the state utilized minimum grading practices. Policy advocates argued these rules created a deceptive picture of student achievement and discouraged academic rigor. By removing these floors, lawmakers intend to ensure that report cards accurately reflect a student’s mastery of the subject matter.
Beyond the ban on minimum grades, the bill introduces several key changes to the state’s grading landscape:
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Assignment Completion: Students must now complete all required coursework to remain eligible for credit or content recovery programs.
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Assessment Standards: School districts are prohibited from forcing the inclusion of benchmark or formative assessments in final grade calculations, preserving those tools for progress monitoring rather than summative evaluation.
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Real-World Alignment: Supporters believe the shift better prepares students for the expectations of higher education and the workforce, where merit-based standards are the norm.
Public polling indicates broad support for the ban, with proponents asserting that the new law restores integrity to the classroom and ensures that grades remain a true measure of merit.
