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.

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-149-15, RELATING TO REQUIREMENTS FOR ADDITIONAL LIFE SCHOLARSHIP STIPENDS, AND SECTION 59-104-25, RELATING TO REQUIREMENTS FOR ADDITIONAL PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIP STIPENDS, BOTH SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN COURSEWORK IN ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS STATISTICS MUST COUNT TOWARDS CERTAIN REQUIRED FRESHMAN YEAR COURSEWORK IN MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE, AND TO CLARIFY THESE PROVISIONS APPLY BEGINNING WITH ACCOUNTING MAJORS WHO COMPLETED SUCH COURSEWORK AS FRESHMEN IN THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR. - RATIFIED TITLE

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-63-210, RELATING TO THE EXPULSION, SUSPENSION, AND TRANSFER OF STUDENTS, SO AS TO REVISE RESTRICTIONS APPLICABLE TO EXPELLED AND SUSPENDED STUDENTS WHILE ON SCHOOL PROPERTY OR ATTENDING SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, AND TO REMOVE LIMITATIONS ON DISCIPLINARY ACTION FOR CERTAIN VIOLATIONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-63-235, RELATING TO THE EXPULSION OF STUDENTS WHO BRING FIREARMS TO SCHOOL, SO AS TO REQUIRE A MINIMUM ONE-YEAR EXPULSION FOR KNOWINGLY BRINGING A FIREARM TO SCHOOL, TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR MODIFICATION, REVIEW, AND REINSTATEMENT OF THE EXPULSION PERIOD, TO PRESERVE STUDENT APPEAL RIGHTS, AND TO AUTHORIZE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES IN ALTERNATIVE OR VIRTUAL SETTINGS; BY ADDING SECTION 59-63-237 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXPULSION OF STUDENTS WHO MAKE CERTAIN THREATS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST SCHOOLS OR SCHOOL PERSONNEL, TO ESTABLISH STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES FOR SUCH EXPULSIONS, TO AUTHORIZE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES IN ALTERNATIVE OR VIRTUAL SETTINGS, AND TO REQUIRE REFERRAL TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 59-63-250, RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OF STUDENTS, SO AS TO CLARIFY THE AUTHORITY OF DISTRICT BOARDS AND DESIGNATED ADMINISTRATORS TO TRANSFER STUDENTS WITHIN THE DISTRICT IN LIEU OF SUSPENSION OR EXPULSION, TO REQUIRE PARENT CONFERENCES OR HEARINGS AND NOTICE TO AND INPUT FROM THE RECEIVING SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, AND TO PROVIDE APPEAL RIGHTS FOR TRANSFERS ORDERED BY AN ADMINISTRATOR. - RATIFIED TITLE

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 12-6-3830 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR AN INCOME TAX CREDIT FOR CERTAIN TAXPAYERS WHO HAVE A CHILD WHO ATTENDS A QUALIFYING PRIVATE SCHOOL, PAROCHIAL SCHOOL, OR HOME SCHOOL.

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-25-60 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL AWARD YEARS OF EXPERIENCE CREDIT FOR CERTAIN RELEVANT NON-TEACHING OCCUPATIONAL EXPERIENCE TO CERTIFICATES OF EDUCATORS WHO SATISFY CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS, AND TO PROVIDE SUCH EXPERIENCE CREDIT MAY BE AWARDED SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF ADVANCEMENT ON THE TEACHER SALARY SCHEDULE, TO PROVIDE OTHER EXISTING CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS REMAIN UNCHANGED BY THIS ACT; AND TO PROVIDE DIRECTIVES TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION CONCERNING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT. - RATIFIED TITLE

AN ACT TO EXTEND THE ONE PERCENT SALES TAX IMPOSED BY ACT 378 OF 2004, AS AMENDED, THE LEXINGTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT, FOR AN ADDITIONAL SEVEN YEARS. - RATIFIED TITLE

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-63-25 SO AS TO PROVIDE AN OPEN ENROLLMENT OPTION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS; BY ADDING SECTION 59-63-102 SO AS TO PROVIDE A PUBLIC SCHOOL MAY NOT CONTRACT WITH A PRIVATE ENTITY THAT SUPERVISES, SANCTIONS, OR REGULATES INTERSCHOLASTIC COMPETITIONS UNLESS THE ENTITY ALLOWS STUDENTS WHO ATTEND A SCHOOL OUTSIDE OF THEIR ATTENDANCE ZONE TO PARTICIPATE IN INTERSCHOLASTIC COMPETITIONS, AND TO PROVIDE A LIMITED TRANSFER OPTION TO CERTAIN CURRENT STUDENTS; BY AMENDING SECTIONS 59-63-30 AND 59-63-32, RELATING TO REQUIREMENTS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL ENROLLMENT AND PENALTIES FOR PROVIDING FALSE INFORMATION, AND SECTION 59-63-480, RELATING TO ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOLS IN ADJACENT COUNTIES, ALL SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; AND BY REPEALING SECTION 59-63-500 RELATING TO TRANSFER WITHOUT CONSENT OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF RESIDENCE.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-110-60, RELATING TO SCHOLARSHIPS, STUDENT LOANS, AND GRANTS UNDER THE SOUTH CAROLINA CRITICAL NEEDS NURSING INITIATIVE ACT, SO AS TO EXPAND THE AVAILABILITY OF LOANS FOR NURSING EDUCATION TO STUDENTS WHO CONTRACTUALLY AGREE TO PRACTICE NURSING IN CERTAIN CRITICAL NEEDS GEOGRAPHIC AREAS, AND TO PROVIDE REQUIRED TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SUCH CONTRACTS.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING ARTICLE 42 TO CHAPTER 6, TITLE 12 SO AS TO ALLOW AN INCOME TAX CREDIT FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO A SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES GRANTS FOR STUDENTS TO ATTEND CERTAIN INDEPENDENT AND HOME SCHOOLS, TO SPECIFY THE MANNER IN WHICH THE CREDIT IS CLAIMED, TO SPECIFY THE PROCESS BY WHICH CERTAIN ORGANIZATIONS AND SCHOOLS BECOME ELIGIBLE, TO SPECIFY CERTAIN INFORMATION WHICH MUST BE MADE PUBLIC, AND TO ALLOW THE STATE TREASURER AND DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE TO ENFORCE THE PROVISIONS OF THE CREDIT; AND BY REPEALING SECTION 12-6-3790 RELATING TO EDUCATIONAL CREDIT FOR EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS CHILDREN'S FUND.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-18-130 SO AS TO PROVIDE STUDENTS FOUND TO BE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS ARE ENTITLED TO TAKE CERTAIN ASSESSMENTS IN THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE AND MAY NOT BE REQUIRED TO TAKE ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS ASSESSMENTS OTHERWISE REQUIRED UNDER THE EDUCATION ACCOUNTABILITY ACT; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 1-1-698, RELATING TO EXCEPTIONS TO THE PROHIBITION AGAINST USE OF LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH, SO AS TO MAKE A CONFORMING CHANGE.