Special Education
The Special Education Department at Myrtle Beach High School provides services for students with cognitive and functional weaknesses. Our department provides services to students who are identified with a variety of disabilities according to state and federal guidelines, including specific learning disability (SLD), educable mentally disabled (EMD), trainable mentally disabled (TMD), profoundly mentally disabled (PMD), emotionally disabled (ED), deaf and hard of hearing (DHH), visual impairment (VI), orthopedic impairment (OI), other health impaired (OHI), autistic (ASD), or a combination of these disabilities labeled Multiple Disabilities.
All special education students at Myrtle Beach High School have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) that is reviewed annually by their IEP team. It is our goal that each student receive the services necessary for him or her to be successful. We offer these services through three instructional models: Resource, South Carolina High School Credential and Self-Contained. The student’s IEP team will determine the appropriate model and services at their annual review.
The Resource Model is a high school special education program that offers students with disabilities or learning differences extra guidance and instruction. By offering individualized instruction and support to meet each student's specific learning needs, resource services assist students in realizing their maximum potential and provide access through accommodations that are necessary for success in the general education curriculum. Special education teachers monitor student progress through daily and/or weekly check-ins to ensure students are completing assignments, receiving the appropriate accommodations based on their individual needs, and offering support and assistance when needed. These students are pursuing a South Carolina State High School Diploma.
The South Carolina High School Credential program is an alternative path towards post-secondary education through a non-diploma credential track. Given the varying levels of student achievement, some students are unable to complete the required high school coursework toward a State High School diploma. Because of this, students with disabilities now have an alternative way to show that they can integrate into the workforce. The SC High School Credential's goals are to give these students fair opportunities to become job-ready, guarantee that they have proof of employability skills, and recognize the hard work they have done in our public schools. The SC High School Credential is aligned with the State's Profile of the SC Graduate and to a course of study for students with disabilities whose Individualized Education Program team determines this course of study is appropriate. Many technical colleges in the state of South Carolina accept applications under special circumstances and permit enrollment in specific certificate programs that do not call for a high school diploma or GED; the South Carolina High School Credential satisfies this requirement and allows students who have obtained a SC High School Credential to further their studies after high school.
The Self-contained model provides specialized instruction for students with disabilities who would not be successful in the general education environment. Each self-contained classroom provides a modified curriculum suited to the individual needs of each student. The program and certificate requirements are based on the student making progress towards IEP goals and objectives. Students may also participate in a replacement/adaptive or modified curriculum in core academic subjects as appropriate and as determined by their IEP team. Self-contained models include life-skills and vocational training, which lead to a South Carolina Certificate of Attendance