Education

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-29-250 SO AS TO REQUIRE ONE UNIT OF INSTRUCTION IN ADVANCED MANUFACTURING BE OFFERED IN MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS; BY ADDING SECTION 59-29-260 SO AS TO REQUIRE ONE UNIT OF INSTRUCTION IN HARBOR PILOTAGE BE OFFERED IN MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS; AND TO PROVIDE THE INSTRUCTION PROVIDED IN THIS ACT MUST BE OFFERED BEGINNING WITH THE 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-32-25 SO AS TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAM TEAMS SHALL CONSIDER THE NEED FOR AGE-APPROPRIATE AND DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE INSTRUCTION FOR THE SUBJECTS TAUGHT UNDER THE COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAM WHEN DEVELOPING INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, TO PROVIDE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL ESTABLISH GUIDELINES FOR TEAMS TO USE WHEN CARRYING OUT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION, AND TO PROVIDE RELATED COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS OF SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARDS AND SCHOOLS.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-1-444 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL ESTABLISH A PILOT PROGRAM ON MEDIA LITERACY AND CRITICAL THINKING INSTRUCTION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-66-35 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE ACQUISITION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF MOBILE PANIC ALERT SYSTEMS IN EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THE STATE, TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SYSTEMS, AND TO PROVIDE PROCUREMENT AND TRAINING REQUIREMENTS.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-101-680 TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF POLITICAL IDEOLOGY OR STATEMENTS ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION IN MAKING ADMISSIONS OR EMPLOYMENT DECISIONS BY PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS FOR SUCH PURPOSES, TO PROHIBIT SUCH INSTITUTIONS FROM REQUIRING FACULTY OR EMPLOYEES TO COMPLETE DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION TRAINING OR TAKE ADVERSE ACTION AGAINST FACULTY OR EMPLOYEES WHO REFUSE OR FAIL TO PARTICIPATE IN SUCH TRAINING, TO PROHIBIT SUCH INSTITUTIONS FROM INFRINGING ON FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS OF FREE SPEECH OF STUDENTS, FACULTY, OR EMPLOYEES, TO PROVIDE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, TO CLARIFY THE APPLICABILITY OF THESE PROVISIONS, AND TO PROVIDE INSTITUTIONS SHALL PROVIDE ELECTRONIC COPIES OF THESE PROVISIONS TO STUDENTS, EMPLOYEES, AND FACULTY, AMONG OTHER THINGS.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-32-10, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS FOR PURPOSES OF THE COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH EDUCATION ACT, SO AS TO DEFINE "DATING VIOLENCE" AND "DATING" OR "DATING RELATIONSHIP"; BY AMENDING SECTIONS 59-32-20, 59-32-30, AND 59-32-50, ALL RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH EDUCATION ACT, ALL SO AS TO REQUIRE THE INCLUSION OF DATING VIOLENCE EDUCATION IN THE COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH EDUCATION CURRICULUM AND MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; BY ADDING SECTION 59-32-35 SO AS TO REQUIRE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A POLICY ON THE TOPIC OF DATING VIOLENCE, AND TO ANNUALLY SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH IDENTIFYING THE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS OFFERING DATING VIOLENCE EDUCATION IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS CHAPTER, AND THE NUMBER OF INSTANCES OF DATING VIOLENCE REPORTED AND ADDRESSED BY EACH SCHOOL; AND BY ADDING SECTION 59-101-220 SO AS TO REQUIRE PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A POLICY ON THE TOPIC OF DATING VIOLENCE, AND TO ANNUALLY MAINTAIN A REPORT DETAILING THE INSTITUTION'S COMPLIANCE WITH THIS REQUIREMENT AND IDENTIFYING THE NUMBER OF INSTANCES OF DATING VIOLENCE REPORTED AND ADDRESSED BY THE INSTITUTION.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-1-425, RELATING TO INSTRUCTIONAL DAYS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THE INSTRUCTIONAL DAYS MAY NOT BEGIN BEFORE 8:30 IN THE MORNING; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-10-10, RELATING TO PHYSICAL ACTIVITY STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS, SO AS TO REVISE THE STANDARDS TO REQUIRE AN OVERALL INCREASE IN MANDATORY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY MINUTES, TO REQUIRE DAILY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, TO REQUIRE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY TO INCLUDE INSTRUCTIONAL PLAY AND UNSTRUCTURED PLAY IN ADDITION TO PHYSICAL EDUCATION, AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 59-10-30, RELATING TO PHYSICAL EDUCATION ACTIVITY DIRECTORS, SO AS TO REQUIRE DESIGNATIONS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY DIRECTORS IN MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND TO REVISE DUTIES OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY DIRECTORS TO INCLUDE DEVELOPMENT OF INSTRUCTIONAL PLAY AND UNSTRUCTURED PLAY FOR ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-2-80, RELATING TO TAX FEATURES OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA COLLEGE INVESTMENT PROGRAM, SO AS TO ALLOW EMPLOYERS TO MAKE TAX DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO EMPLOYEE COLLEGE INVESTMENT TRUST ACCOUNTS.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 12-6-3830 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A TAXPAYER WHOSE CHILD ATTENDS A QUALIFYING PRIVATE SCHOOL, PAROCHIAL SCHOOL, OR HOME SCHOOL FOR GRADES K-12 IS ENTITLED TO A TAX CREDIT.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "SOUTH CAROLINA TRANSPARENCY AND INTEGRITY IN EDUCATION ACT" BY ADDING ARTICLE 5 TO CHAPTER 29, TITLE 59 SO AS TO PROVIDE NECESSARY DEFINITIONS, TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING CURRICULUM CONTENT AND SCHOOL EMPLOYEE TRAINING REQUIREMENTS, AMONG OTHER THINGS, TO PROVIDE MEANS FOR ADDRESSING VIOLATIONS, TO PROVIDE RELATED REQUIREMENTS OF LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCIES AND THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND TO PROHIBIT SCHOOLS FROM USING, MAKING AVAILABLE, PROMOTING, OR PROVIDING ACCESS TO PORNOGRAPHIC OR PROHIBITED MATERIALS; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 59-28-180, RELATING TO PARENTAL EXPECTATIONS IN THE PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION ACT, SO AS TO PROVIDE PARENTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF THE EDUCATION OF THEIR CHILDREN REGARDING MORALS, ETHICS, AND CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY, AND TO PROVIDE A PARENTAL PLEDGE OF EXPECTATIONS MUST BE PROVIDED TO PARENTS AS PART OF THE REGISTRATION AND ENROLLMENT PROCESS.