Supporting Teachers Act

A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, TO ENACT THE "SUPPORTING TEACHERS ACT" BY ADDING SECTION 59-25-52 SO AS TO INCREASE EFFORTS TO RETAIN EDUCATORS BY CONDUCTING AN ANONYMOUS SEMIANNUAL WORKPLACE SATISFACTION OPINION SURVEY OF SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE REPORTING OF THE RESULTS OF THESE SURVEYS; BY ADDING SECTION 59-25-435 SO AS TO PROVIDE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS MAY NOT RETALIATE AGAINST TEACHERS FOR MAKING PUBLIC POLICY EXPRESSIONS, TO PROVIDE A RELATED CAUSE OF ACTION AND REMEDIES, AND TO CLARIFY THE APPLICABILITY OF THIS ACT TO TEACHERS UNDER NONRENEWABLE INDUCTION CONTRACTS AND TEACHERS UNDER CONTINUING CONTRACTS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-1-425, RELATING TO THE STATUTORY SCHOOL TERM, SO AS TO PROVIDE TEACHERS WITH FIVE ADDITIONAL PLANNING DAYS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 59-21-20, RELATING TO APPROPRIATION REQUIREMENTS FOR TEACHER SALARIES, SO AS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DAYS THESE APPROPRIATIONS ARE REQUIRED TO TWO HUNDRED DAYS.