Education

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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passed · South Carolina · House Apr 28, 2026

H 5201: Safe Schools Act of 2026

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "SAFE SCHOOLS ACT OF 2026" BY ADDING ARTICLE 6 TO CHAPTER 63, TITLE 59, SO AS TO ESTABLISH A MULTIJURISDICTIONAL SCHOOL SAFETY TASK FORCE, TO REQUIRE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO DEVELOP MULTIHAZARD EMERGENCY OPERATION PLANS, TO PROVIDE FOR CERTIFIED SCHOOL SAFETY ASSESSMENTS AND REQUIRED LIVE DRILLS, AND TO PROVIDE OVERSIGHT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE BY SLED, AMONG OTHER THINGS.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates safety protocols, emergency plans, and drills to protect students, strengthening school environment for education access and safety.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety

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in committee · South Carolina · House Feb 11, 2026

H 5156: Fiscal Responsibility in K-12 Technology Planning Act

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY IN K-12 TECHNOLOGY PLANNING ACT" BY ADDING ARTICLE 5 TO CHAPTER 23, TITLE 59 SO AS TO REQUIRE LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCIES TO EVALUATE AND CONSIDER TOTAL OWNERSHIP COSTS AND FLEXIBILITY FOR INNOVATION AND ACCESSIBILITY WHEN ACQUIRING TECHNOLOGY, TO MANDATE ANNUAL REPORTING OF SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY DEVICE BREAK/FIX RATES AND RELATED DATA, AND TO DIRECT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO COMPILE AND REPORT STATEWIDE FINDINGS, PROMULGATE RELATED REGULATIONS, AND PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT, AMONG OTHER THINGS.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates cost evaluation and reporting for school tech spending, directly promoting fiscal responsibility in budget management per its title and summary.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates cost evaluations and reporting to ensure efficient tech resource allocation in K-12 schools, improving fiscal management of educational technology spending.85% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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