Education

in committee · South Carolina · Senate Sep 1, 2026

S 1018: Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Program

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-104-20, RELATING TO THE PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, SO AS TO ADD THE CLASSIC LEARNING TEST AS AN APPROVED ASSESSMENT FOR RECEIVING SCHOLARSHIPS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-149-50, RELATING TO THE LIFE SCHOLARSHIP, SO AS TO AMEND THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR A LIFE SCHOLARSHIP TO INCLUDE ACT AND CLT SCORES; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 59-26-20, RELATING TO THE DUTIES OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION, SO AS TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "TALENTED AND QUALIFIED RESIDENT" TO INCLUDE ACT AND CLT SCORES.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands scholarship options by adding Classic Learning Test scores, increasing educational access for students seeking higher education funding.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid Testing & Assessment

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in committee · South Carolina · Senate Feb 5, 2026

S 897: Measels Vaccine Required to Attend Public School

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 44-29-180, RELATING TO VACCINATION AND IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS OF SCHOOL PUPILS AND DAY CARE CENTER CHILDREN, SO AS TO REMOVE THE RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION FOR THE MMR VACCINE FOR CHILDREN ATTENDING PUBLIC SCHOOLS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-8-110, RELATING TO EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP TRUST FUND DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO DEFINE AN ELIGIBLE STUDENT AS ONE WHO HAS HAD A MMR VACCINE OR A MEDICAL EXEMPTION; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-41-20, RELATING TO CHILDREN ELIGIBLE FOR GRANTS, SO AS TO INCLUDE A REQUIREMENT THAT AN ELIGIBLE CHILD HAS A MMR VACCINE OR MEDICAL EXEMPTION; AND BY ADDING SECTION 59-101-600 SO AS TO MANDATE A PERSON MUST HAVE A MMR VACCINE TO ATTEND A PUBLIC INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill enforces MMR vaccination for public school attendance, strengthening health requirements to protect school environment and student safety in K-12 education.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill removes religious exemptions for MMR vaccine in public schools, strengthening vaccination rates and public health programs. Directly supports disease prevention in healthcare policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood Student Financial Aid Public Health

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in committee · South Carolina · House Mar 26, 2026

H 5177: Baccalaureate in Culinary Arts Management Degree

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-103-15, RELATING TO THE MISSIONS AND FOCUSES OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE AN APPLIED BACCALAUREATE IN CULINARY ARTS MANAGEMENT DEGREE AT TRIDENT TECHNICAL COLLEGE APPROVED FIRST BY THE BOARD FOR TECHNICAL AND COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION AND THEN THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION, AND TO PROVIDE THE DEGREE PROGRAM IS ALLOWED SO LONG AS NEW STATE GENERAL FUNDS ARE NOT APPROPRIATED FOR THE OPERATIONS OF THE DEGREE PROGRAM.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAuthorizes new culinary arts management degree at Trident Tech, expanding higher education program options without state funding requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · South Carolina · House Feb 24, 2026

H 5253: Ai in education

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-28-195 SO AS TO ESTABLISH LIMITATIONS AND SAFEGUARDS GOVERNING THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, TO REQUIRE PARENTAL NOTICE AND CONSENT, TO ENSURE HUMAN AND TEACHER OVERSIGHT, TO PROTECT STUDENT DATA, TO DEFINE TERMS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR ENFORCEMENT AND REMEDIES.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes safeguards, parental consent, and student data protection for AI use in public schools, aligning with educational protection goals.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill establishes data privacy safeguards for AI in schools, requiring parental consent and oversight to protect student data, aligning with privacy protection indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers Artificial Intelligence

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in committee · South Carolina · House Feb 11, 2026

H 5166: Alternative School Program Student Transition Policies

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SUBARTICLE 2 TO ARTICLE 13, CHAPTER 63, TITLE 59, RELATING TO ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL PROGRAMS, SO AS TO ESTABLISH STATEWIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENT TRANSITIONS INTO AND OUT OF ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL PROGRAMS INCLUDING INDIVIDUAL TRANSITION PLANS, PROGRESS MONITORING, REENTRY CRITERIA, AND DISTRICT REPORTING; AND TO DESIGNATE THE EXISTING PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 13, CHAPTER 63, TITLE 59 AS "GENERAL PROVISIONS."

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes statewide transition policies requiring individual plans and progress monitoring for alternative school programs, enhancing student outcomes and program structure within K-12 education.90% confidence

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in committee · South Carolina · Senate Feb 25, 2026

S 959: Tuition Gap Scholarship Program

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-150-385 SO AS TO CREATE THE TUITION GAP SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENSURING THAT ELIGIBLE STUDENTS RECEIVING LIFE SCHOLARSHIPS, HOPE SCHOLARSHIPS, OR PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIPS HAVE THEIR REMAINING TUITION COSTS FULLY COVERED DURING ANY SEMESTER IN WHICH THEY RECEIVE SUCH SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCovers remaining tuition costs for scholarship recipients, expanding higher education access and reducing financial barriers for students.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · South Carolina · House Feb 11, 2026

H 5165: Special Education Directors

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-21-545 SO AS TO ESTABLISH MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR DIRECTORS OF SPECIAL EDUCATION OR INDIVIDUALS SERVING IN EQUIVALENT ADMINISTRATIVE ROLES WITH PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION AND SERVICES.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes minimum qualifications for special education directors, strengthening oversight and service quality in K-12 special education programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education

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in committee · South Carolina · House Feb 12, 2026

H 5169: Public school employee sick leave

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-1-400, RELATING TO SICK LEAVE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES, SO AS TO REQUIRE PAYMENT FOR ACCRUED BUT UNUSED SICK LEAVE TO TEACHERS UPON SEPARATION OF EMPLOYMENT FROM A SCHOOL DISTRICT EXCEPT WHEN BEGINNING WORK IN A DISTRICT THAT ACCEPTS TRANSFER OF THE ACCRUED SICK LEAVE WITHIN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill ensures teachers receive payment for accrued sick leave upon separation, directly supporting educator compensation and retention in K-12 schools.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires payment for accrued sick leave upon separation, protecting workers' earned benefits without significant restrictions.95% confidence

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in committee · South Carolina · House Feb 11, 2026

H 5171: Uniform Substitute Teacher Policies

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-25-70 SO AS TO REQUIRE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO MAINTAIN UNIFORM SUBSTITUTE TEACHER POLICIES AND TO PROVIDE RELATED REQUIREMENTS FOR THE USE OF SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASSROOMS AND SERVICES.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires uniform substitute policies for special education, enhancing consistency and support in classroom staffing for vulnerable students.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education Teachers

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in committee · South Carolina · House Feb 10, 2026

H 5137: Uniform Requirements for Interscholastic Activity Participation Act

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITY PARTICIPATION ACT" BY ADDING SECTION 59-63-97 SO AS TO ESTABLISH UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES; TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS; TO LIMIT THE EXCUSAL OF STUDENTS FROM CORE ACADEMIC CLASSES; TO RESTRICT THE USE OF INSTRUCTIONAL FUNDS FOR INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES; TO ESTABLISH ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY AND INDEPENDENT ACADEMIC REVIEW REQUIREMENTS; AND TO PROVIDE RELATED SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICIES, OVERSIGHT, AND ENFORCEMENT REQUIREMENTS.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates academic eligibility for activities, limits excusal from core classes, and restricts fund use for activities to prioritize academic performance, strengthening educational focus.92% confidence

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