Educator Assistance Act

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "EDUCATOR ASSISTANCE ACT"; BY ADDING SECTION 59-25-112 SO AS TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATES ISSUED BY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION ARE PERMANENT UNLESS REVOKED OR SUSPENDED AND ARE NOT SUBJECT TO RENEWAL, AND TO PROVIDE NO TEACHER MAY BE REQUIRED TO RENEW A PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY THE BOARD; BY ADDING SECTION 59-101-145 SO AS TO AUTHORIZE THE USE DATE BEING COLLECTED UNDER CURRENT PROCEDURES TO REPORT ON CERTAIN POSTSECONDARY MATTERS CONCERNING GRADUATES SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND TO REQUIRE THE STREAMLINING OF DATA COLLECTION TIMELINES AND PROCESSES; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-25-420, RELATING TO NOTICES CONCERNING ANNUAL TEACHER EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS, SO AS TO PROVIDE CONTRACT ACCEPTANCES SUBMITTED BEFORE THE STATUTORY NOTIFICATION DEADLINE MAY BE WITHDRAWN BY SUBMISSION OF WRITTEN NOTICE TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WITHIN TEN DAYS AFTER PUBLICATION OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SALARY SCHEDULE FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR, AND TO PROVIDE SCHOOL DISTRICTS MAY NOT REPORT SUCH WITHDRAWALS AS A BREACH OF CONTRACT; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-25-530, RELATING TO UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND BREACH OF CONTRACT BY TEACHERS, SO AS TO REVISE THE PENALTIES FOR BREACH OF CONTRACT RESULTING FROM THE UNAUTHORIZED EXECUTION OF AN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT WITH ANOTHER DISTRICT, TO REVISE THE PERIOD FOR EDUCATOR CERTIFICATE SUSPENSION DUE TO BREACH OF CONTRACT, AND TO MAKE SUCH REVOCATIONS DISCRETIONARY; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-101-130 RELATING TO HIGH SCHOOLS REPORTING TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION; INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING REPORTING TO HIGH SCHOOLS; AND BY REPEALING SECTION 59-101-140 RELATING TO TABULATION OF REPORTS.