Education (Testing & Assessment)

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-104-20, RELATING TO THE PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, SO AS TO ADD THE CLASSIC LEARNING TEST AS AN APPROVED ASSESSMENT FOR RECEIVING SCHOLARSHIPS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-149-50, RELATING TO THE LIFE SCHOLARSHIP, SO AS TO AMEND THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR A LIFE SCHOLARSHIP TO INCLUDE ACT AND CLT SCORES; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 59-26-20, RELATING TO THE DUTIES OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION, SO AS TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "TALENTED AND QUALIFIED RESIDENT" TO INCLUDE ACT AND CLT SCORES.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-104-20, RELATING TO THE PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, SO AS TO ADD THE CLASSIC LEARNING TEST AS AN APPROVED ASSESSMENT FOR RECEIVING SCHOLARSHIPS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-149-50, RELATING TO THE LIFE SCHOLARSHIP, SO AS TO AMEND THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR A LIFE SCHOLARSHIP TO INCLUDE ACT AND CLT SCORES; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 59-26-20, RELATING TO THE DUTIES OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION, SO AS TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "TALENTED AND QUALIFIED RESIDENT" TO INCLUDE ACT AND CLT SCORES.

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-29-250 SO AS TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL GRADING SYSTEMS, TO CONDITION ELIGIBILITY FOR CREDIT RECOVERY AND CONTENT RECOVERY ON COMPLETION OF REQUIRED ASSIGNMENTS, TO LIMIT THE USE OF CERTAIN ASSESSMENTS, TO PROVIDE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS, TO DIRECT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ESTABLISH A TASK FORCE TO EVALUATE AND RECOMMEND REVISIONS TO THE UNIFORM GRADING POLICY, AND TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO ADOPT THE RECOMMENDED REVISIONS, AMONG OTHER THINGS. - RATIFIED TITLE

A JOINT RESOLUTION TO CREATE THE "TRUANCY ROOT CAUSE INTERVENTION STUDY COMMITTEE" TO REVIEW AND RECOMMEND MODIFICATIONS TO CURRENT TRUANCY INTERVENTION PROGRAMS TO ENSURE THE IDENTIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT OF HOME ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AND RELATED CONDITIONS CONTRIBUTING TO INDIVIDUAL INSTANCES OF TRUANCY, AND TO REQUIRE THE COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE LEGISLATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BEFORE JULY 1, 2027.

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.

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-8-110, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS CONCERNING THE EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP TRUST FUND, SO AS TO REVISE DEFINITIONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-8-115, RELATING TO SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION CRITERIA AND PROCEDURES, SO AS PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING PRIORITY AND GENERAL APPLICATIONS, TO PROVIDE CERTAIN EXEMPTION ACKNOWLEDGEMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR NONPUBLIC EDUCATION SERVICE PROVIDERS, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-8-120, RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP TRUST FUND, SO AS TO RECHARACTERIZE ITS CORPUS AND REVISE ITS USAGES, TO ESTABLISH A TRUSTEE APPOINTMENT FOR THE FUND AND TO PROVIDE THE QUALIFICATIONS AND DUTIES OF THE TRUSTEE, AND TO ESTABLISH SCHOLARSHIP ALLOCATION AMOUNTS AND ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-8-125, RELATING TO SCHOLARSHIP FUND PAYMENTS, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE ROLE OF THE TRUSTEE IN MAKING SUCH PAYMENTS, TO PROVIDE FOR TRUSTEE PAYMENTS, AND TO PROVIDE TERMS FOR A CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF THE TRUSTEE'S DUTIES, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-8-130, RELATING TO SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY TERMINATION NOTICE REQUIREMENTS, SO AS TO RESTATE THE SECTION; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-8-135, RELATING TO SCHOLARSHIP PARTICIPANT NUMBER LIMITATIONS, SO AS TO REVISE THE LIMITATIONS, ENABLE INCREASES, AND REMOVE A PERIODIC PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY AND USE REVIEW REQUIREMENT; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-8-140, RELATING TO EDUCATION SERVICE PROVIDER PROGRAM PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS, SO AS TO INCLUDE ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS, AND TO REMOVE CERTAIN ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-8-145, RELATING TO MISCELLANEOUS DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS, SO AS TO REMOVE A PROVISION ALLOWING THE DEPARTMENT TO CONTRACT WITH QUALIFIED ORGANIZATIONS FOR RELATED ASSISTANCE; BY ADDING SECTION 59-8-147 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT SHALL POST CERTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROGRAM ON ITS INTERNET WEBSITE, TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS OF THE DEPARTMENT CONCERNING THE APPLICATION PROCESS, AND TO PROVIDE A GRACE PERIOD FOR APPLICANTS TO CORRECT MINOR ERRORS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-8-150, RELATING TO EDUCATION SERVICE PROVIDER REQUIREMENTS, SO AS TO EXPAND EMPLOYEE CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS, TO REVISE EMPLOYEE SURETY BOND REQUIREMENTS, TO REVISE ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS, AND TO REMOVE A PROVISION AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT TO PROMULGATE RELATED REGULATIONS, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-8-160, RELATING TO THE EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP TRUST FUND REVIEW PANEL, SO AS TO RESTATE THE SECTION; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-8-165, RELATING TO DISTRICT-LEVEL STUDENT TRANSFER POLICIES, SO AS TO REPLACE THE EXISTING LANGUAGE WITH PROVISIONS CONCERNING INTERDISTRICT TRANSFERS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-8-170, RELATING TO AN EXEMPTION FROM HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE TRANSFER ELIGIBILITY RULES FOR INTERDISTRICT TRANSFER SCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS, SO AS TO MAKE THE PROVISION APPLICABLE TO SCHOLARSHIP AND NONSCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS, AND TO PROVIDE SUBSEQUENT TRANSFERS ARE SUBJECT TO HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE ELIGIBILITY RULES; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 59-150-350, RELATING TO SCHOLARSHIPS DESIGNATED TO RECEIVE LOTTERY FUNDING, SO AS TO INCLUDE THE SOUTH CAROLINA EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP TRUST FUND. - RATIFIED TITLE

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "COMPETITIVE EDUCATION EMPLOYMENT ACT" BY AMENDING SECTION 59-18-300, RELATING TO THE ADOPTION OF EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS IN CERTAIN CORE ACADEMIC AREAS, SO AS TO INCLUDE SPANISH AMONG THESE AREAS, AND TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ESTABLISH EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS FOR SPANISH BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 2026, TO BE IMPLEMENTED BEGINNING WITH THE 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-18-310, RELATING TO THE STATEWIDE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM TO PROMOTE STUDENT LEARNING AND MEASURE STUDENT PERFORMANCE ON STATE STANDARDS, SECTION 59-18-320, RELATING TO THE REVIEW AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE STATEWIDE ASSESSMENTS, SECTION 59-18-325, RELATING TO THE SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT SYSTEM, SECTION 59-18-350, RELATING TO THE CYCLICAL REVIEW OF STATEWIDE STANDARDS AND ASSESSMENTS, AND SECTION 59-18-900, RELATING TO PERFORMANCE RATINGS OF SCHOOLS, ALL SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 6-1-320, RELATING TO THE LIMIT ON ANNUAL PROPERTY TAX MILLAGE INCREASES IMPOSED BY POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS, SO AS TO RESTORE THE FORMER METHOD OF OVERRIDING THE ANNUAL CAP BY A POSITIVE MAJORITY OF THE APPROPRIATE GOVERNING BODY AND DELETING THE SUPER MAJORITY REQUIREMENT FOR OVERRIDING THE CAP FOR SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES; BY AMENDING SECTION 11-11-150, RELATING TO THE TRUST FUND FOR TAX RELIEF, SO AS TO RESTORE FUNDING FOR THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION AND FULL FUNDING FOR THE SCHOOL-OPERATING MILLAGE PORTION OF THE REIMBURSEMENT PAID LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR THE HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR THE ELDERLY OR DISABLED; BY AMENDING SECTION 12-37-220, RELATING TO PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS, SO AS TO DELETE THE EXEMPTION REIMBURSED FROM THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FUND FROM ALL SCHOOL-OPERATING MILLAGE ALLOWED ALL OWNER-OCCUPIED RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY; BY AMENDING SECTION 12-37-270, RELATING TO THE REIMBURSEMENTS PAID LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR PROPERTY TAX NOT COLLECTED AS A RESULT OF THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FOR THE ELDERLY OR DISABLED AND, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE APPLICATION OF PROPERTY TAX CREDITS IN COUNTIES WHERE THE USE OF LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX REVENUES GIVE RISE TO A CREDIT AGAINST SCHOOL-OPERATING PROPERTY TAX MILLAGE, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING AMENDMENTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 12-37-251, RELATING TO THE CALCULATION OF "ROLLBACK TAX MILLAGE" APPLICABLE FOR REASSESSMENT YEARS, SO AS TO RESTORE THE FORMER EXEMPTION ALLOWED FROM A PORTION OF SCHOOL-OPERATING MILLAGE FOR ALL OWNER-OCCUPIED RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY; BY REPEALING ARTICLE 7 OF CHAPTER 10, TITLE 4 RELATING TO THE LOCAL OPTION SALES AND USE TAX FOR LOCAL PROPERTY TAX CREDITS; BY REPEALING SECTIONS 11-11-157, 11-11-155, AND 11-11-156 RELATING TO THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION TRUST FUND; BY REPEALING ARTICLE 11 OF CHAPTER 36, TITLE 12 RELATING TO THE STATEWIDE ADDITIONAL ONE PERCENT SALES AND USE TAX THE REVENUES OF WHICH REIMBURSE SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FROM ALL PROPERTY TAX MILLAGE IMPOSED FOR SCHOOL OPERATIONS; BY AMENDING SECTIONS 12-37-3130, 12-37-3140, AND 12-37-3150, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS, VALUATION, AND ASSESSABLE TRANSFERS OF INTEREST, FOR PURPOSES OF THE "SOUTH CAROLINA REAL PROPERTY VALUATION REFORM ACT," SO AS TO ELIMINATE THE "POINT OF SALE" VALUATION OF REAL PROPERTY FOR PURPOSES OF IMPOSITION OF THE PROPERTY TAX AND RETURN TO THE FORMER VALUATION SYSTEM IN WHICH REAL PROPERTY AND IMPROVEMENTS TO REAL PROPERTY ARE APPRAISED BY THE ASSESSOR AND PERIODICALLY ADJUSTED IN COUNTYWIDE REAPPRAISALS, TO PROVIDE THAT WHEN THE FIFTEEN PERCENT CAP OVER FIVE YEARS ON INCREASES IN FAIR MARKET VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY RESULTS IN A VALUE THAT IS LOWER THAN THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF THE PROPERTY AS DETERMINED BY THE ASSESSOR THAT THE LOWER VALUE BECOMES THE PROPERTY TAX VALUE OF THE REAL PROPERTY AND IS DEEMED ITS FAIR MARKET VALUE FOR PURPOSES OF IMPOSITION OF PROPERTY TAX, TO PROVIDE THAT AN ASSESSABLE TRANSFER OF INTEREST IS A TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OR OTHER INSTANCE CAUSING A "STEPUP" IN THE PROPERTY TAX VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY TO ITS FAIR MARKET VALUE AS DETERMINED BY THE ASSESSOR, TO REQUIRE THE CAP ON INCREASES IN VALUE TO BE APPLIED SEPARATELY TO REAL PROPERTY AND THE IMPROVEMENTS THEREON, AND TO PROVIDE WHEN THE STEPUP VALUE FIRST APPLIES; BY AMENDING SECTION 12-60-30, RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF "PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT" FOR PURPOSES OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA REVENUE PROCEDURES ACT, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE NOTICES TO INCLUDE PROPERTY TAX VALUE AND PROVIDE THAT THE APPLICABLE ASSESSMENT RATIO APPLIES TO THE LOWER OF FAIR MARKET VALUE, PROPERTY TAX VALUE, OR SPECIAL USE VALUE; BY AMENDING SECTION 12-60-2510, RELATING TO THE FORM OF ASSESSMENT NOTICES ISSUED BY THE COUNTY ASSESSOR, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THESE NOTICES MUST CONTAIN THE PROPERTY TAX VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY AND IMPROVEMENTS IN ADDITION TO FAIR MARKET VALUE AND SPECIAL USE VALUE; BY REPEALING ARTICLE 25 OF CHAPTER 37, TITLE 12 RELATING TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA REAL PROPERTY VALUATION REFORM ACT, IF CERTAIN CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS ARE RATIFIED; BY AMENDING SECTION 12-43-220, RELATING TO PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS AND SECTIONS 12-60-30 AND 12-60-2510, RELATING TO TAX PROCEDURES, ALL SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING AMENDMENTS, AND MAKE THESE REPEALS AND AMENDMENTS CONTINGENT UPON RATIFICATION OF AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 6, ARTICLE X OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THIS STATE ELIMINATING THE FIFTEEN PERCENT CAP OVER FIVE YEARS IN INCREASES IN THE VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY FOR PURPOSES OF IMPOSITION OF THE PROPERTY TAX AND ELIMINATING AN ASSESSABLE TRANSFER OF INTEREST AS AN EVENT THAT MAY RESULT IN A CHANGE IN THE VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY FOR PURPOSES OF THE IMPOSITION OF THE PROPERTY TAX.