Education

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-67-75 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ALL NEWLY PURCHASED OR LEASED SCHOOL BUSES MUST BE EQUIPPED WITH AN INTERIOR CAMERA.

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-40-40, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA CHARTER SCHOOLS ACT, SO AS TO CHANGE REFERENCES FROM "SPONSOR" TO "AUTHORIZER," AND TO REVISE AND PROVIDE OTHER DEFINITIONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-40-50, RELATING TO LEGAL EXEMPTIONS, POWERS, AND DUTIES OF CHARTER SCHOOLS, SO AS TO IMPOSE CERTAIN FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY MEASURES, TO IMPOSE CERTAIN ADMISSIONS AND ENROLLMENT STANDARDS AND TRANSPARENCY MEASURES, TO REVISE BYLAW REQUIREMENTS AND BOARD ETHICS REQUIREMENTS, AND TO REQUIRE ADDITIONAL POWERS AND DUTIES CONCERNING OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-40-55, RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZERS, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES, TO REVISE THEIR POWERS AND DUTIES, TO INCREASE CHARTER AUTHORIZER OVERSIGHT, TO PROHIBIT CERTAIN FINANCIAL CONFLICTS, TO INCREASE ENFORCEMENT POWERS OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AND TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR AUTHORIZER REVOCATION AND SCHOOL TRANSFERS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-40-60, RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOL APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS, SO AS TO REVISE CHARTER SCHOOL APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS, TO INCREASE GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES, TO CREATE RULES FOR VIRTUAL SCHOOLS, AND TO CREATE A STREAMLINED REPLICATION PROCESS FOR SUCCESSFUL CHARTER SCHOOLS, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-40-65, RELATING TO VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS IN CHARTER SCHOOLS, SO AS TO PROVIDE NECESSARY DEFINITIONS AND IMPOSE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS ON VIRTUAL CHARTER SCHOOLS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-40-70, RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOL APPLICANTS TO AUTHORIZERS, SO AS TO REVISE CHARTER APPLICATION AND APPROVAL PROCEDURES, TO IMPOSE CERTAIN REVIEW TIMELINES, TO REVISE EVALUATION REQUIREMENTS, TO PROVIDE CONDITIONAL APPROVALS, TO IMPOSE PLANNING-YEAR REQUIREMENTS, AND TO REVISE AUTHORIZER OVERSIGHT; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-40-75, RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZER BOARD MEMBER ETHICS, CONDUCT, AND REMOVAL, SO AS TO INCLUDE AUTHORIZERS, TO REVISE THE GROUNDS FOR REMOVAL, TO REVISE THE MANNER OF FILLING VACANCIES, AND TO PROHIBIT CERTAIN CONFLICTS OF INTEREST; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-40-90, RELATING TO APPEALS OF FINAL DECISIONS OF CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZERS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT APPEALS OF FINAL DECISIONS BY AUTHORIZERS MUST BE MADE TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW COURT; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-40-110, RELATING TO CHARTER DURATIONS, RENEWALS, AND CLOSURES, SO AS TO INCLUDE CERTAIN CHARTER SCHOOL PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENTS BY AUTHORIZERS AND RELATED GUIDANCE AND RESPONSE PROCEDURES; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-40-111, RELATING TO ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION CAMPUSES, SO AS TO IMPOSE ACCOUNTABILITY REQUIREMENTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-40-115, RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOL TRANSFERS AMONG AUTHORIZERS, SO AS TO IMPOSE REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCH TRANSFER PROCESSES AND TO REQUIRE CERTAIN TRANSPARENCY MEASURES, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-40-120, RELATING TO THE OWNERSHIP OF DISSOLVED CHARTER SCHOOL ASSETS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN ASSETS BECOME PROPERTY OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA INSTEAD OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL'S AUTHORIZER; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-40-140, RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZER MANAGEMENT AND REPORTING, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES AND TO AUTHORIZE CHARTER SCHOOLS TO CONTRACT WITH MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONS FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-40-150, RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOL FORMATIONS AND OPERATIONS, SO AS TO IMPOSE REQUIREMENTS ON THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION CONCERNING CHARTER SCHOOL APPLICATIONS, COMPLIANCE GUIDANCE, AND EVALUATIONS, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-40-155, RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOL TRUSTEE TRAINING AND REMOVALS, SO AS TO MAKE CERTAIN TRAINING PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZER BOARD MEMBERS, TO REVISE THE ORIENTATION PROGRAM FOR NEW BOARD MEMBERS, AND TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TRAINING REQUIREMENTS, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-40-180, RELATING TO REGULATIONS AND GUIDELINES, GRANDFATHER PROVISIONS, AND PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS, SO AS TO EXEMPT CERTAIN EXISTING AUTHORIZERS FROM THE APPLICATION PROCESS, AND TO SUBJECT AUTHORIZERS TO FUNDING REDUCTIONS FOR WILFUL OR KNOWING VIOLATIONS; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 59-40-230, RELATING TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD, SO AS TO CORRECT AN OBSOLETE REFERENCE. - RATIFIED TITLE

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-111-20, RELATING TO FREE TUITION FOR CERTAIN VETERANS' CHILDREN, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN VETERANS' CHILDREN QUALIFY FOR FREE TUITION IF THEY MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA. - RATIFIED TITLE

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING PART 7 TO CHAPTER 3, TITLE 37 SO AS TO LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT INTEREST MAY ACCRUE ON A STUDENT EDUCATION LOAN.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS SO AS TO ENACT THE "PARENTAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION ACT"; BY ADDING ARTICLE 3 TO CHAPTER 28, TITLE 59, SO AS TO RECOGNIZE THAT PARENTS HAVE THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY TO DIRECT THE UPBRINGING, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, AND MENTAL HEALTH OF THEIR CHILDREN, TO PROHIBIT THE STATE FROM SUBSTANTIALLY BURDENING THOSE PARENTAL RIGHTS, TO REQUIRE THE STATE TO OBTAIN PARENTAL CONSENT IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, TO CREATE A CAUSE OF ACTION FOR VIOLATION OF THE CHAPTER, AND TO PROVIDE NECESSARY DEFINITIONS; AND TO DESIGNATE THE EXISTING PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 28, TITLE 59, AS ARTICLE 1 ENTITLED "GENERAL PROVISIONS."

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-29-120, RELATING TO THE AUTHORITY OF SCHOOLS TO EXCUSE STUDENTS TO ATTEND VETERAN'S DAY ACTIVITIES, SO AS TO REQUIRE SCHOOLS TO EXCUSE STUDENTS TO ATTEND SUCH ACTIVITIES.

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

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-1-485 SO AS TO ESTABLISH A STATEWIDE WORKFORCE READINESS GOAL; BY ADDING SECTION 59-29-245 SO AS TO PROVIDE REMEDIATION IN COURSES IN LITERACY AND MATHEMATICS TO HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS SEEKING POST-SECONDARY STUDIES BUT LACKING REQUISITE ACADEMIC PREPARATION, TO PROVIDE THIS COURSEWORK MAY BE USED TO MEET HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS, AND TO PROVIDE RELATED IMPLEMENTATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND THE STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM; BY ADDING SECTION 59-39-105 SO AS TO PROVIDE HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS SHALL COMPLETE AND SUBMIT A FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID BEFORE GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL, TO PROVIDE EXEMPTIONS, TO PROVIDE RELATED REQUIREMENTS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE PROVISIONS, AND TO MAKE THESE PROVISIONS APPLICABLE BEGINNING WITH THE 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-26-35, RELATING TO EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAM EVALUATIONS AND THE SOUTH CAROLINA EDUCATOR PREPARATION REPORT CARD, SO AS TO TRANSFER PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR CONDUCTING THESE EVALUATIONS AND PRODUCING THIS REPORT CARD TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AMONG OTHER THINGS; AND BY ADDING SECTION 41-1-140 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKFORCE SHALL MAINTAIN AND PROVIDE FREE ONLINE ACCESS TO INFORMATION REGARDING THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF COLLEGE MAJORS, AMONG OTHER THINGS.

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.