Education (Higher Education)

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-101-435 SO AS TO REQUIRE PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING TO FORMALLY ADOPT AND COMPLY WITH THE COMPACT FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION PROPOSED BY THE UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF EDUCATION, AND TO ESTABLISH REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "FORMING OPEN AND ROBUST UNIVERSITY MINDS (FORUM) ACT" BY ADDING CHAPTER 148 TO TITLE 59 SO AS TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, TO PROVIDE MEASURES TO PROTECT EXPRESSIONS BY STUDENTS AND STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS IN CERTAIN PLACES ON THE CAMPUSES OF PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING IN THIS STATE, TO PROVIDE RELATED REQUIREMENTS FOR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, TO PROVIDE SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES OF PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, AND TO PROVIDE MEANS OF REDRESS FOR VIOLATIONS OF THIS ACT, AMONG OTHER THINGS.

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-111-20, RELATING TO FREE TUITION FOR CERTAIN VETERANS' CHILDREN, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN VETERANS' CHILDREN QUALIFY FOR FREE TUITION IF THEY MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA. - RATIFIED TITLE

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-1-485 SO AS TO ESTABLISH A STATEWIDE WORKFORCE READINESS GOAL; BY ADDING SECTION 59-29-245 SO AS TO PROVIDE REMEDIATION IN COURSES IN LITERACY AND MATHEMATICS TO HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS SEEKING POST-SECONDARY STUDIES BUT LACKING REQUISITE ACADEMIC PREPARATION, TO PROVIDE THIS COURSEWORK MAY BE USED TO MEET HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS, AND TO PROVIDE RELATED IMPLEMENTATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND THE STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM; BY ADDING SECTION 59-39-105 SO AS TO PROVIDE HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS SHALL COMPLETE AND SUBMIT A FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID BEFORE GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL, TO PROVIDE EXEMPTIONS, TO PROVIDE RELATED REQUIREMENTS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE PROVISIONS, AND TO MAKE THESE PROVISIONS APPLICABLE BEGINNING WITH THE 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-26-35, RELATING TO EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAM EVALUATIONS AND THE SOUTH CAROLINA EDUCATOR PREPARATION REPORT CARD, SO AS TO TRANSFER PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR CONDUCTING THESE EVALUATIONS AND PRODUCING THIS REPORT CARD TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AMONG OTHER THINGS; AND BY ADDING SECTION 41-1-140 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKFORCE SHALL MAINTAIN AND PROVIDE FREE ONLINE ACCESS TO INFORMATION REGARDING THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF COLLEGE MAJORS, AMONG OTHER THINGS.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-104-27 SO AS TO ESTABLISH DURATIONS FOR PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIPS, AND TO MAKE PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR ACCELERATED UNDERGRADUATE-TO-GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 59-149-60, RELATING TO THE DURATION OF LIFE SCHOLARSHIPS, SO AS TO MAKE LIFE SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR ACCELERATED UNDERGRADUATE-TO-GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-101-440 SO AS TO PROVIDE A STUDENT MUST BE EXEMPT FROM PAYING OUT-OF-STATE TUITION AT A PUBLIC INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND MUST BE ELIGIBLE FOR CERTAIN STATE-SPONSORED SCHOLARSHIPS AND TUITION ASSISTANCE IF HE ATTENDED A HIGH SCHOOL IN THIS STATE FOR THREE OR MORE YEARS, GRADUATED FROM A HIGH SCHOOL IN THE STATE OR RECEIVED THE EQUIVALENT OF A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA IN THIS STATE, REGISTERS AS AN ENTERING STUDENT OR IS CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN A PUBLIC INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION NO EARLIER THAN THE FALL SEMESTER OF THE 2026-2027 ACADEMIC YEAR, AND, IF LACKING LAWFUL IMMIGRATION STATUS, FILES AN AFFIDAVIT WITH THE INSTITUTION STATING HE HAS FILED AN APPLICATION TO LEGALIZE HIS IMMIGRATION OR WILL FILE AN APPLICATION WHEN ELIGIBLE; TO PROVIDE A STUDENT WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR A STATE-SPONSORED SCHOLARSHIP OR TUITION ASSISTANCE UNDER THIS ACT ALSO MUST MEET OTHER QUALIFICATIONS OF THE STATE-SPONSORED SCHOLARSHIP OR TUITION ASSISTANCE TO RECEIVE THE SCHOLARSHIP OR TUITION ASSISTANCE; TO PROVIDE STUDENT INFORMATION OBTAINED IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT MUST BE CONFIDENTIAL; AND TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION TO ADOPT RULES AND REGULATIONS NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT.

A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO DECLARE MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 AS "SC TRIO DAY IN SOUTH CAROLINA" AND TO COMMEND THE SC TRIO ORGANIZATION FOR OVER 50 YEARS OF OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS AND PROGRESS TO PROMOTE AWARENESS, EDUCATION, AND ADVOCACY FOR TRIO PERSONNEL AND TO EMPOWER STUDENTS TO BECOME COLLEGE READY, GAIN COLLEGE ACCESS, AND GRADUATE FROM AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING TO BECOME PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-2-80, RELATING TO TAX FEATURES OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA COLLEGE INVESTMENT PROGRAM, SO AS TO ALLOW EMPLOYERS TO MAKE TAX DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO EMPLOYEE COLLEGE INVESTMENT TRUST ACCOUNTS.