Education

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "FREEDOM TO READ PROTECTIONS AND RESPECT FOR SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALIST AUTONOMY ACT"; BY ADDING SECTION 59-31-55 SO AS TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, TO AFFIRM CERTAIN RIGHTS CONCERNING STUDENT ACCESS TO DIVERSE AND DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE READING MATERIAL, TO PROVIDE THE RIGHT FOR SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALISTS TO AUTONOMOUSLY MAKE CERTAIN DECISIONS ABOUT CURATING AND MAINTAINING MATERIALS IN THEIR SCHOOL LIBRARY/MEDIA CENTER COLLECTIONS, TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR FORMAL CHALLENGES TO SUCH MATERIALS, AND TO PROVIDE RELATED RIGHTS OF PUBLIC SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALISTS AND OTHER PUBLIC SCHOOL PROFESSIONALS WHEN PERFORMING RELATED PROFESSIONAL DUTIES IN GOOD FAITH.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-26-25 SO AS TO PROVIDE AFTER JULY 1, 2027, A PERSON WHO RECEIVES, RENEWS, OR MAINTAINS ANY EDUCATOR CERTIFICATE AUTHORIZED BY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND ISSUED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL HOLD A MASTER'S DEGREE THAT MEETS DEPARTMENT REGULATIONS APPROPRIATE TO HIS TEACHING FIELD AND LEVEL, TO PROVIDE THE BOARD MAY NOT AUTHORIZE, AND THE DEPARTMENT MAY NOT AWARD, AN EDUCATOR CERTIFICATE TO A PERSON WHO DOES NOT HOLD SUCH A MASTER'S DEGREE, AND TO PROVIDE SCHOOL DISTRICTS MAY NOT EMPLOY A TEACHER WHO DOES NOT HOLD SUCH A MASTER'S DEGREE; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 59-3-10, RELATING TO APPOINTMENT, COMPENSATION, AND QUALIFICATIONS OF THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION, SO AS TO PROVIDE A CANDIDATE FOR THE OFFICE OF STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION SHALL MEET REQUIRED STATUTORY ACADEMIC AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS OF THAT OFFICE, INCLUDING HAVING BEEN AWARDED THE RELEVANT MASTER'S DEGREE, PRIOR TO FILING FOR CANDIDACY OR THE FILING IS RENDERED VOID AND THE NAME OF THE CANDIDATE MAY NOT APPEAR ON ANY PRIMARY OR GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT FOR THE OFFICE OF STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION IN THE ELECTION FOR WHICH THE FILING WAS MADE.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 8-15-15 SO AS TO PROVIDE POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS OF THIS STATE AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS MAY BY ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION ENGAGE IN COLLECTIVE BARGAINING WITH THEIR EMPLOYEES, TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCH ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS, AND TO PROVIDE POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS SHALL VOTE ON WHETHER TO ADOPT SUCH AN ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AND TO DEFINE TERMINOLOGY; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 8-11-83, RELATING TO PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS FOR DUES OF CERTAIN PUBLIC EMPLOYEE ASSOCIATIONS, SO AS TO REMOVE A PROVISION PROHIBITING DEDUCTIONS TO ASSOCIATIONS THAT ENGAGE IN COLLECTIVE BARGAINING OR ENCOURAGE MEMBERS TO STRIKE.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "REJECTING RACISM IN POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION ACT" BY ADDING ARTICLE 4 TO CHAPTER 101, TITLE 59, SO AS TO ENTITLE THE ARTICLE "REJECTING RACISM IN POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION"; TO PROVIDE THE PURPOSE OF THE ACT; TO PROVIDE NECESSARY DEFINITIONS; AND TO ENACT PROVISIONS TO PREVENT DISCRIMINATION, TO PROMOTE THE INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENTS AND FACULTY OF PUBLIC K-12 AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THIS STATE, AND TO PROTECT THE FREE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS ACCORDING TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THIS STATE.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "HEALTHY STUDENTS ACT" BY AMENDING SECTION 59-10-10, RELATING TO PHYSICAL ACTIVITY STANDARDS FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS, SO AS TO REQUIRE NINETY MINUTES OF WEEKLY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, TO INCLUDE SECOND GRADE STUDENTS AMONG THOSE WHOSE FITNESS STATUSES MUST BE REPORTED, AND TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PROVIDE A SUMMARY REPORT OF THE FITNESS STATUS OF STUDENTS IN CERTAIN GRADES IN EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-10-310, RELATING TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MEAL AND COMPETITIVE FOOD NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS, SO AS TO REMOVE THE RESTRICTIONS ON THE APPLICATION OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS TO THE SCHOOL YEAR; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-10-330, RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF COORDINATED SCHOOL HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCILS TO PERFORM CERTAIN FUNCTIONS, SO AS TO REMOVE PROVISIONS CONCERNING POLICIES LIMITING VENDING MACHINE AND SNACK FOOD SALES; TO REDESIGNATE CHAPTER 10, TITLE 59 OF THE S.C. CODE AS "PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES, AND NUTRITIONAL STANDARDS"; TO REDESIGNATE ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 10, TITLE 59 OF THE S.C. CODE AS "PHYSICAL ACTIVITY STANDARDS"; AND BY REPEALING SECTION 59-10-340 RELATING TO SNACKS IN SCHOOL VENDING MACHINES.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-25-60 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT AN INDIVIDUAL'S PRIOR WORK EXPERIENCE MAY BE AWARDED ON AN INITIAL TEACHING CERTIFICATE IF THE PRIOR EXPERIENCE IS IN OR RELATED TO THE CONTENT FIELD OF THE CERTIFICATE, AND TO PROVIDE THAT EXISTING CERTIFICATE HOLDERS MAY ALSO RECEIVE THE SAME CREDIT FOR PRIOR WORK EXPERIENCE.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-1-488 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL REVIEW AND APPROVE ALL INTERNET WEBSITES, COMPUTER APPLICATIONS, AND OTHER COMPUTER SOFTWARE PROPOSED FOR USE ON SCHOOL-ISSUED DIGITAL DEVICES TO ENSURE THEIR ALIGNMENT TO CURRICULUM APPROVED FOR USE IN SCHOOLS, TO PROVIDE RELATED REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS ON SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND STUDENTS, AND TO PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DEVELOP A PROCEDURE FOR DISTRICT PERSONNEL TO OBTAIN SUCH APPROVAL.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-32-30, RELATING TO THE COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAM REQUIRED IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THE HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT INSTRUCTION COMPONENT OF THE PROGRAM MUST INCLUDE CERTAIN ULTRASOUND VIDEO SHOWING THE DEVELOPMENT OF VITAL ORGANS IN EARLY FETAL DEVELOPMENT AND COMPUTER-GENERATED ANIMATION SHOWING THE PROCESS OF FERTILIZATION AND EVERY STAGE OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, AMONG OTHER THINGS, AND TO PROVIDE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY BRING A CIVIL ACTION TO COMPEL COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 12-6-3690 SO AS TO ALLOW AN INCOME TAX CREDIT TO A TAXPAYER THAT OPERATES A SCHOOL TO WORK PROGRAM WHICH LINKS STUDENTS AND SCHOOLS WITH THE WORKPLACE, TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PROGRAM, AND TO SPECIFY THE AMOUNT OF THE CREDIT.

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.