The South Carolina Basic Skills Assessment Program (BSAP) measures 16 basic skills objectives as mandated by legislation enacted in 1978. The BSAP Reading and Mathematics Tests were administered April 17 through 21, 1989. The tests for grades 1, 2, 3, 6, and 8 consisted of 6 multiple-choice questions for each of the 11 objectives in reading and mathematics. The Exit Examination, a requirement for high school graduation beginning in 1989-90, consists of 10 items for each of the objectives. In 1989, the percentage of students meeting the standard in reading varied from 74.4 in grade 8 to 87.1 in grade 1. Significant increases were noted in each grade, with the greatest increase in percentage of students meeting the requirements in grades 2 and 8, at approximately 23%. The Exit Examination in reading was passed by 83.6% of first time takers (grade 10). In mathematics, the percentage of students meeting the standard ranged from 73.5% in grades 6 and 8 to 91.5% in grade 2, and 81.4% passed the Exit Examination. Increases were found for each grade. On the BSAP writing test, administered to grades 6 and 8 and at the Exit level, 78.3% of grade 6, 82.8% of grade 8, and 79.1% of grade 10 Exit examinees passed. There are 10 figures illustrating passing percentages. Six appendices consisting of 129 pages of tables contain demographic information and district test score summaries. (SLD)