Category: Education

Update as of 2/12/22: H.4766, which would add more seats and give more power to the Coordinating Council for Workforce Development, passed the S.C. House on Feb. 8. The bill…

Update as of 3/2/20: The Senate version of this bill has received a high volume of amendments. As such, specific details contained in this summary may be out of date.…

S.203 would create a new series of criteria for school district consolidation. Specifically, if any school district met two of the following conditions, it would be consolidated: The district has…

Each year, the state spends millions on duplicative administrative positions that could be used in the classroom. Instead of overhauling South Carolina’s antiquated school district model, lawmakers have historically taken…

Just in case it wasn’t abundantly clear, South Carolina lawmakers want to make sure citizens know that it is not illegal to pick up sea shells by the seashore –…

This bill would mandate that lunch be provided to South Carolina public school students at no charge to the students. While schools do currently provide breakfast and lunch, the students…

Two bills filed by the House would change security policy in South Carolina’s schools. H.4386 would require that metal detectors be installed at the public entrances of every public school…

This bill spells out procedures for dealing with mold in public school facilities. It tasks both the State Board of Education (SBOE) and the Department of Education (DOE) with developing…

This bill would allow local school districts to compensate public and charter school teachers for any sick or vacations days earned but not used. This creates an additional teacher incentive,…

This bill would privatize the state’s school bus fleet. Under current law, school bus transportation is controlled by the State Board of Education and funded by the state. This bill…

SOUTH CAROLINA’S FLAGSHIP UNIVERSITY GOES AROUND THE LAW Recently the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education found itself the subject of debate in newspapers and on the Senate floor. A…

S.27 is a companion bill to S.137, a joint resolution that proposes that the superintendent of education be appointed by the governor instead of elected. S.27 would adjust the necessary code…

H.3036 is a companion to H.3146 (the constitutional amendment) and would amend the relevant sections of state code to change the Superintendent of Education from an elected position to a cabinet position…

S.40 would create a College and University Board of Regents, which is meant to make the governance of higher education more effective and uniform. The Board would consist of seventeen members…

H.3146 is a constitutional amendment that would change the Superintendent of Education from an elected position to a cabinet position with advice and consent of the Senate. In order for this to…

H.3140 requires all high schoolers seventeen and older register to vote. Schools are also prompted to offer information about and the importance of voting in their social studies classes. Voting is…

H.3066 would create a College and University Board of Regents, which is meant to make the governance of higher education more effective and uniform. The Board would consist of seventeen members…

H.3053 would prohibit higher education tuition rate hikes during the four years following a student’s initial enrollment, or for eight semesters. If the student has not completed the degree by…

HOUSE MEMBERS INTRODUCE ASSORTMENT OF K-12 EDUCATION BILLS. FRESH THINKING SEEMS TO BE IN SHORT SUPPLY. Education reform hasn’t gotten much attention this year, except for the routine dire prophecies…

H.4780 creates a committee for the purpose of reviewing Title 59 of the SC Code and reporting to the General Assembly the statutes that are obsolete or no longer applicable.…

H.4781 creates the South Carolina Education and Economic Development Coordination Council, comprised of: State Superintendent of Education or his designee; Executive Director of the South Carolina Employment Security Commission or…

H.4776 would create the South Carolina Education Facility Authority to “select and assist in the provision of financial assistance for the construction or enhancement of school facilities to school districts.”…

Companion bills H.4782 and H.4938 would mandate the State Department of Education and the Center for Education Recruitment, Retention and Advancement collaborate with the Commission on Higher Education to survey students at the…

H.4792 would create the Virtual Early Learning Pilot Program to provide literacy and numeracy instruction and assessment for preschool children in low income households. The program would be provided via…

Companion bills H.4774 and S.1038 would reauthorize the first steps to school readiness program, which provides funding to and oversight of various early education programs in South Carolina, until July…

H.4779 creates the Office of Transformation within the Department of Education for the purpose of providing service and support to school districts and schools. This translates into going into the…

H.4516 requires the Criminal Justice Academy to develop and implement a training program curriculum for school resource officers by January 1, 2017. This bill also requires the Department of Education…

H.4718 allows retired teachers to apply for a South Carolina Retired Educator certificate. The initial certificate is valid for 30 years, and a renewed certificate is valid for 10. No completion…

H.4516 requires the Criminal Justice Academy to develop and implement a training program curriculum for school resource officers by January 1, 2017. This bill also requires the Department of Education…

H.4706 would create the new felony crime of knowingly selling a firearm to an individual on the consolidated terrorist watch list administered by the FBI. This crime would be punishable…