Education

signed · South Carolina · Senate May 19, 2025

S 78: Work Experience Credit for Educators

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

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides non-teaching experience credit for teacher salary advancement, strengthening educator compensation without altering certification requirements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

passed · South Carolina · House May 8, 2025

H 3802: Participation in school activities and programs

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-63-100, RELATING TO PARTICIPATION IN INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES OF PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS BY HOME SCHOOL, CHARTER SCHOOL, AND GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL STUDENTS, SO AS TO INCLUDE PARTICIPATION IN COCURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, AND CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION, TO PROVIDE EQUAL TREATMENT FOR SUCH STUDENTS AND STUDENTS ENROLLED IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT, AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, AMONG OTHER THINGS.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands educational access by mandating equal participation in school activities for homeschool/charter students, aligning with curriculum and program inclusion indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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signed · South Carolina · House May 7, 2025

H 3247: Excused school absences

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-1-462 SO AS TO EXCUSE ABSENCES, NOT TO EXCEED TEN SCHOOL DAYS PER SCHOOL YEAR, FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS WHEN PARTICIPATING IN CERTAIN CAREER AND TECHNICAL STUDENT ORGANIZATION EXPERIENCES, AND TO PROVIDE STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS OR LEGAL GUARDIANS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING AND COMPLETING ASSIGNMENTS MISSED DURING SUCH EXCUSED ABSENCES. - RATIFIED TITLE

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allows excused absences for career/tech student org participation, enabling educational program access without attendance penalty92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

passed · South Carolina · House May 7, 2025

H 4339: South Carolina Healthy School Meals Act

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "SOUTH CAROLINA HEALTHY SCHOOLS ACT" BY ADDING SECTION 59-10-325 SO AS TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN BY PROHIBITING THE USE OF HARMFUL FOOD ADDITIVES IN SCHOOL MEALS, ENSURING INGREDIENT TRANSPARENCY, ESTABLISHING COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES AND ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS, TO PROVIDE A PERIODIC REVIEW AND POSSIBLE UPDATES OF PROHIBITED ADDITIVES, TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, AND TO MAKE RELATED FINDINGS.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits harmful food additives in school meals, ensuring healthier nutrition for students, which directly supports K-12 school health and well-being as part of educational environment protection.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits harmful food additives in school meals to protect children's health, directly advancing public health initiatives through nutritional safety standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · South Carolina · House May 1, 2025

H 3758: Student expression of religious viewpoints

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-1-435, RELATING TO THE RELIGIOUS VIEWPOINTS ANTIDISCRIMINATION ACT, SO AS TO PROVIDE SCHOOL DISTRICTS SHALL ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT CERTAIN POLICIES CONCERNING LIMITED PUBLIC FORUMS AND VOLUNTARY STUDENT EXPRESSION OF RELIGIOUS VIEWPOINTS BEFORE THE 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR, AND TO PROVIDE A MODEL POLICY THAT SCHOOLS MAY ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THESE POLICY REQUIREMENTS.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires school policies enabling voluntary religious expression in student forums, supporting educational freedom of expression within K-12 settings.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · South Carolina · House Apr 10, 2025

H 3201: Computer Science Education Initiative Act

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "SOUTH CAROLINA COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION INITIATIVE ACT" BY ADDING SECTION 59-29-250 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXPANSION AND ENHANCEMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION IN PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS THROUGH THE CREATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A STATEWIDE COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION PLAN AND THE REQUIREMENT THAT EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL OFFERS AT LEAST ONE COMPUTER SCIENCE COURSE THAT MEETS CERTAIN CRITERIA, AND TO PROVIDE RELATED REQUIREMENTS OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates computer science courses in public high schools, expanding access to CS education and enhancing curriculum requirements for K-12 schools.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates computer science education expansion in high schools, promoting tech literacy and workforce development through required courses and statewide planning.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · South Carolina · House Apr 10, 2025

H 3927: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "ENDING ILLEGAL DISCRIMINATION AND RESTORING MERIT-BASED OPPORTUNITY ACT" BY ADDING ARTICLE 29 TO TITLE 1, CHAPTER 1 SO AS TO PROHIBIT EVERY OFFICE, DIVISION, OR OTHER UNIT BY ANY NAME OF EVERY OFFICE OR DEPARTMENT OF THIS STATE, AND ALL OF ITS POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS, INCLUDING ALL INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS, FROM PROMOTING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION, AND TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS; AND TO PROMOTE INDIVIDUAL INITIATIVE, EXCELLENCE, AND HARD WORK; AND TO SPECIFY APPLICABILITY.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationProhibits state schools and institutions from promoting DEI, restricting curriculum content related to diversity initiatives.90% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill prohibits state offices from promoting DEI, directly restricting workplace equality initiatives that protect workers from discrimination under Labor & Employment standards.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Education

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passed · South Carolina · House Apr 9, 2025

H 3578: Cursive writing coursework

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-29-15, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT THAT CURSIVE WRITING BE TAUGHT IN PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, SO AS TO SPECIFY THAT THE CURSIVE WRITING INSTRUCTION MUST BEGIN IN SECOND GRADE AND CONTINUE IN EACH GRADE THROUGH FIFTH GRADE.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates cursive writing instruction in grades 2-5, strengthening curriculum requirements in K-12 education.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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