Education

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-59-120, RELATING TO LIMITATIONS OF ACTIVITIES OF GUIDANCE COUNSELORS AND CAREER SPECIALISTS TO EXCLUDE PERFORMING ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS, SO AS TO PROVIDE IF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION, DETERMINES THAT A DISTRICT IS IN VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION MAY WITHHOLD UP TO FIVE PERCENT OF THE DISTRICT'S AID TO CLASSROOM APPROPRIATION FOR THAT FISCAL YEAR.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-26-110, RELATING TO MANDATORY TEACHER TRAINING IN YOUTH SUICIDE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION AS A CONDITION TO RENEWING THEIR CREDENTIALS, SO AS TO REQUIRE SUCH TRAINING FOR INDIVIDUALS EMPLOYED IN A KINDERGARTEN THROUGH TWELFTH GRADE SCHOOL OR INSTITUTION OF HIGHTER EDUCATION.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-18-940 SO AS TO PROVIDE SCHOOL DISTRICTS SHALL DEVELOP FOR EACH OF THEIR SCHOOLS A SUMMARY DETAILING RACIAL DISPARITY IN STUDENT PERFORMANCE ON CERTAIN NATIONAL ACADEMIC ASSESSMENTS AND PROVIDE EACH SCHOOL WITH ITS REPORT, TO PROVIDE SCHOOLS SHALL POST THEIR REPORTS ON THEIR FRONT DOORS, TO REQUIRE REPORTS INCLUDE FIVE-YEAR TREND CHARTS, AND TO PROVIDE DISTRICTS ANNUALLY SHALL UPDATE THE SUMMARIES AND TREND CHARTS.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "UNIVERSAL HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START ACT"; BY ADDING SECTION 59-152-170 SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE GOAL OF OFFERING EVIDENCE-BASED HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS UNIVERSALLY TO ELIGIBLE FAMILIES, TO PROVIDE RELATED IMPLEMENTATION AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS FOR THE OFFICE OF FIRST STEPS TO SCHOOL READINESS, TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, AND TO PROVIDE PRIVACY MEASURES AND RELATED MEASURES.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-63-100, RELATING TO PRIVATE SCHOOL AND CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC SCHOOL INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES SO AS TO PROVIDE LIMITED SITUATIONS IN WHICH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO ATTEND A PRIVATE OR CHARTER SCHOOL MAY PARTICIPATE IN HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE SPORTS OFFERED AT PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS, AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-63-105 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ANY INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION, BODY, OR ENTITY THAT A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT JOINS MUST PROVIDE IN THEIR CONSTITUTION, RULES OR POLICIES A RANGE OF SANCTIONS FOR VIOLATIONS; TO GUARANTEE THAT INDEPENDENT OR CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE AFFORDED THE SAME RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES ENJOYED BY ALL MEMBERS; TO GUARANTEE A HOME SCHOOL ATHLETIC TEAM MAY NOT BE DENIED ACCESS TO PRESEASON AND REGULAR SEASON INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS; TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF NAME, IMAGE, LIKENESS, OR OTHER COMPENSATION FOR PLAY; TO ESTABLISH A PENALTY FREE TRANSFER WINDOW TWICE A YEAR AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR OTHER TRANSFERS; TO ESTABLISH A DIRECT AND IMMEDIATE APPEAL PROCESS TO A PANEL CONSISTING OF THIRTEEN MEMBERS; AND TO PROVIDE THAT A PUBLIC SCHOOL MAY NOT AFFILIATE OR BECOME A MEMBER OF AN ASSOCIATION, BODY, OR ENTITY THAT FAILS TO INCLUDE THESE ITEMS; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 59-39-160, RELATING TO INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES, REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION, MONITORING, PARTICIPATION BY HANDICAPPED, AND WAIVERS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S DETERMINATIONS OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER THIS SECTION ARE BINDING ON A INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-5-66 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ESTABLISH A METHOD TO TRACK PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT WITH A STUDENT'S EDUCATION WHO IS ENROLLED IN PUBLIC SCHOOL, AND TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND REPORTS RELATED TO PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT AND A STUDENT'S EDUCATION.

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 ADDING SECTION 59-25-425 SO AS TO LIMIT TEACHER DUTIES UNDER SCHOOL DISTRICT SALARY SCHEDULES TO CLASSROOM AND CERTAIN RELATED DUTIES, TO PROHIBIT THE ASSIGNMENT OF EXTRACURRICULAR DUTIES WITHOUT CONSENT AND EXTRA COMPENSATION AS STATED IN THE TEACHING CONTRACT, TO REQUIRE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO DEVELOP RELATED PLANS FOR IMPLEMENTING THESE PROVISIONS, TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, AND TO MAKE THESE PROVISIONS APPLICABLE BEGINNING WITH TEACHING CONTRACTS ISSUED FOR THE 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "MENTAL HEALTH IN SCHOOLS ACT" BY ADDING SECTION 59-1-373 SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE GOAL OF OFFERING ANNUAL MENTAL HEALTH SCREENINGS TO STUDENTS IN GRADES SIX THROUGH TWELVE TO REDUCE RISKS RELATED TO STUDENTS' UNMET MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS AND IMPROVE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN THIS STATE, TO CREATE THE MENTAL HEALTH SCREENING PROGRAM IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND TO PROVIDE THE PURPOSE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PROGRAM, TO PROVIDE OTHER SERVICES AND REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES TO STUDENTS, AND TO PROVIDE RELATED RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AMONG OTHER THINGS.