S.C. Code Ann. § 59-10-330 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 10 / Article 3 / Section 59-10-330
SECTION 59-10-330. Coordinated School Health Advisory Council (CSHAC); development of health wellness plan; health and nutrition policies.
Status: in_force

(A) Each school district shall establish and maintain a Coordinated School Health Advisory Council (CSHAC) to assess, plan, implement, and monitor district and school health policies and programs, including the development of a district wellness policy to begin implementation in the 2006-07 school year. The council must be composed of members of the community, school representatives, students, parents, district food service employees, and school board members. (B) Each district, in collaboration with the CSHAC, shall develop a school health improvement plan that addresses strategies for improving student nutrition, health, and physical activity and includes the district's wellness policy. The school health improvement plan must report compliance with the requirements contained in Section 59-10-310. The district health improvement plan goals and progress toward those goals must be included in the district's strategic plan required pursuant to Section 59-20-60. (C) Each school board of trustees shall establish health and nutrition policies for its elementary schools designed to limit vending sales and sales of foods and beverages of minimal nutritional value at any time during the school day except in the case of medical emergency and special occasions celebrated during school hours. However, this policy does not restrict the food that a parent or guardian may provide for his child's consumption at school. A school district board of trustees may adopt a more restrictive policy. Effect of Amendment 2016 Act No. 258, SECTION 2, in (B), added the second sentence, relating to compliance reporting.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-115-60 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 115 / Section 59-115-60
SECTION 59-115-60. State Education Assistance Authority Loan Fund.
Status: in_force

There shall be established and maintained by the authority a fund which shall be designated the "State Education Assistance Authority Loan Fund". There shall be deposited to the credit of the loan fund the proceeds, exclusive of accrued interest, derived from the sale of the revenue bonds of the authority and any other moneys made available to the authority for making student loans. There also may be deposited in the loan fund the "spread" or difference between the average rate of interest paid by the authority on its revenue bonds and the interest received by the authority on student loans as well as any state appropriated funds or other funds made available for administration of the loan program authorized herein. Moneys in the loan fund shall be used only for the following purposes: (a) To make direct loans to students. (b) To make loans to any not-for-profit corporate entity approved by the authority for the purpose of enabling the entity to make student loans on terms and under conditions approved by the authority. (c) To defray the expenses of operation and administration of the authority and its programs for which other funds are not available to the authority. (d) To remedy any deficiency in the loan guarantee reserve fund. (e) To remedy any deficiency in the sinking fund. Pending the use of moneys in the loan fund for any of its authorized purposes the moneys shall be invested and reinvested by the State Treasurer. All earnings from the investments shall be added to and become a part of the loan fund.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-123-230 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 123 / Section 59-123-230
SECTION 59-123-230. Bonds payable from net housing revenues.
Status: in_force

All bonds issued pursuant to Sections 59-123-210 through 59-123-320 shall be payable from the net revenues derived by the Medical University from the rental of all dormitories, student dwelling quarters and facilities, houses, residences, apartment buildings, from time to time used or designed for use as student and faculty housing, and all furniture, furnishings and equipment therein, which are now owned by the Medical University, or which may hereafter be acquired by the Medical University for any of such purposes; provided, that the trustees may abandon the use of any portion of the facilities or sell or dispose of any portion of the facilities upon the receipt of a written recommendation by the chief financial officer of the Medical University and approval of the State Fiscal Accountability Authority or the Department of Administration, as appropriate, and the Joint Bond Review Committee to the effect that such action will not adversely affect the ability of the Medical University to discharge its obligations to the holders of bonds issued pursuant to Sections 59-123-210 through 59-123-320 and upon such further conditions as shall be prescribed in the resolution of the trustees providing for the issuance of bonds. For purposes of Sections 59-123-210 through 59-123-320 the term "net revenues" shall mean that sum which remains from the gross revenues derived from the rental of housing facilities after deducting the amounts required in any given year for the operation and maintenance of such facilities.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-16-60 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 16 / Section 59-16-60
SECTION 59-16-60. Annual report.
Status: in_force

Annually, the State Board of Education shall provide the General Assembly a report that shall include, but not be limited to, the following information: (1) list of courses offered through the virtual school; (2) number of local school districts and number of the district students participating in the virtual school; (3) private schools and number of the private school students participating in the virtual school; (4) number of homeschool students participating in the virtual school; (5) success rates for students by courses enrolled in the virtual school; (6) number of students who dropped a course and reasons for dropping; (7) expenditures made for the virtual school; and (8) number of students unable to enroll because of space limitation.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-1-451 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 1 / Article 5 / Section 59-1-451
SECTION 59-1-451. Costs of the Target 2000-School Reform for the Next Decade Act; provisions not mandatory; local school districts not prohibited from implementing similar provisions.
Status: in_force

All costs of implementing the provisions of the Target 2000-School Reform for the Next Decade Act (1989 Act No. 194) must be paid from funds appropriated for that purpose by the General Assembly. The programs of the Target 2000-School Reform for the Next Decade Act (1989 Act No. 194) must be implemented to the extent possible using funds appropriated by the General Assembly, but no provision of the Target 2000-School Reform for the Next Decade Act (1989 Act No. 194) is mandatory beyond the appropriation provided by the General Assembly. Nothing in this section prohibits local school districts from implementing programs similar to or as described in the Target 2000-School Reform for the Next Decade Act (1989 Act No. 194) on the district's initiative.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-125-360 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 125 / Article 3 / Section 59-125-360
SECTION 59-125-360. Faith and credit of State.
Status: in_force

The faith and credit of the State may not be pledged for the payment of the principal and interest of the bonds, and there must be on the face of each bond a statement plainly worded to that effect. Neither the trustees nor any other person signing the bonds is personally liable for them.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-53-57 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 53 / Article 1 / Section 59-53-57
SECTION 59-53-57. State funds; procedures for appropriations.
Status: in_force

State funds for the South Carolina Technical Education System must be appropriated to the board by the General Assembly and funds budgeted for the technical institutions must be allocated in a uniform and equitable manner. Monies appropriated for special schools must be retained at the state level and expended upon recommendation of the board. The board and all institutions under its direction shall use prescribed statewide accounting and budgeting systems which shall account for all revenues and expenditures regardless of sources of funds and purposes for which expended. The systems shall include provisions to identify specific revenues with the specific expenditures to which they relate when the fund source so requires. The board and institutions are eligible to receive state funds for capital facilities. Prior to the withdrawal of authorized funds from the State Treasurer, the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education shall obtain and transmit to the State Treasurer a certificate from the appropriate official at the technical institution stating that a minimum of twenty percent of each project cost has been provided by the local support area. The provisions of this paragraph do not apply to Denmark and Beaufort Technical Colleges.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-20-60 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 20 / Section 59-20-60
SECTION 59-20-60. Spending priority; audits; evaluations and reports; statewide testing programs; innovation initiatives; school improvement councils; Education Finance Review Committee.
Status: reserved

(1) School districts shall give first spending priority of funds allocated under this chapter to full implementation of the defined minimum program. (2) The State Board of Education shall audit the programmatic and fiscal aspects of this chapter, including the degree to which a school meets all prescribed standards of the defined minimum program and shall report the results in the Annual Report of the State Superintendent of Education. Schools which have been classified as 'dropped' by the defined minimum program accreditation procedures are not eligible for funding in the following fiscal year until an acceptable plan to eliminate the deficiencies is submitted and approved by the State Board of Education. (3) Each school district board of trustees shall cause the district and each school in the district to develop comprehensive five-year plans with annual updates to outline the District and School Improvement Plans. Districts which have not begun a strategic planning cycle must do so and develop a plan no later than the 1994-95 school year. Districts which have undertaken such a planning process may continue in their planning cycle as long as the process meets the intent of this section and the long-range plans developed or under development can be amended to encompass the requirements of this section. For school year 1993-94, districts may submit either the improvement plan consistent with State Department guidelines or their five-year comprehensive plan. The State Board of Education shall recommend a format for the plans which will be flexible and adaptable to local planning needs while encompassing certain state mandates, including the early childhood and academic assistance initiative plans pursuant to Section 59-139-10. All district and school plans must be reviewed and approved by the board of trustees. The District Plan should integrate the needs, goals, objectives, strategies, and evaluation methods outlined in the School Plans. Measures of effectiveness must include outcome and process indicators of improvement and must provide data regarding what difference the strategies have made. Staff professional development must be a priority in the development and implementation of the plans and must be based on an assessment of needs. Long and short-range goals, objectives, strategies, and time lines need to be included. (4) Each plan shall provide for an Innovation Initiative, designed to encourage innovative and comprehensive approaches based on strategies identified in the research literature to be effective. The Innovation Initiative must be utilized by school districts to implement innovative approaches designed to improve student learning and accelerate the performance of all students. Funds may be expended on strategies in one or more of the following four categories: (a) new approaches to what and how students learn by changing schooling in ways that provide a creative, flexible, and challenging education for all students, especially for those at risk. Performance-based outcomes which support a pedagogy of thinking and active approaches for learning must be supported; (b) applying different teaching methods permitting professional educators at every level to focus on educational success for all students and on critical thinking skills and providing the necessary support for educational successes are encouraged; (c) redefining how schools operate resulting in the decentralization of authority to the school site and allowing those closest to the students the flexibility to design the most appropriate education location and practice; (d) creating appropriate relationships between schools and other social service agencies by improving relationships between the school and community agencies (health, social, mental health), parents and the business community, and by establishing procedures that cooperatively focus the resources of the greater community upon barriers to success in school, particularly in the areas of early childhood and parenting programs, after-school programs, and adolescent services. Funds for the Innovation Initiative must be allocated to districts based upon a fifty percent average daily membership and fifty percent pursuant to the Education Finance Act formula. At least seventy percent of the funds must be allocated on a per school basis for school based innovation in accord with the District-School Improvement Plan. Up to thirty percent may be spent for district-wide projects with direct services to schools. District and school administrators must work together to determine the allocation of funds. For 1993-94, districts and schools may use these funds for designing their Innovation Initiatives to be submitted to the peer review process established in Section 59-139-10 prior to implementation of the innovations in 1994-95. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, districts may carry over all unexpended funds in 1993-94, and up to twenty-five percent of allocated funds each year thereafter in order to build funds for an approved program initiative. (5) An annual district programmatic report to the parents and constituents of the school district must be developed by the local school board. Each report shall include the goals and objectives of the school district, the strategies implemented to meet the goals and objectives, and an evaluation of the outcomes. An annual school report to the parents and constituents of the school must be developed by the School Improvement Council and shall provide information on the school's progress on meeting the school and district goals and objectives. These reports shall be provided by November fifteenth of each year. (6) Each school board of trustees shall establish an improvement council at each school in the district and this council is to be involved in improvement and innovation efforts at the school. The council shall be composed of at least two parents, elected by the parents of the children enrolled in the school; at least two teachers, elected by the faculty; at least two students in schools with grades nine and above elected by the students; other representatives of the community and persons appointed by the principal. The elected members of the council shall comprise at least a two-thirds majority of the elected and appointed membership of the council. The council should also include ex-officio members such as the principal and others holding positions of leadership in the school or school organizations, such as parent-teacher groups, booster clubs, and federal program advisory groups. Each council shall assist in the preparation of the five-year plan and annual updates required in this section, assist with the development and monitoring of school improvement and innovation, provide advice on the use of school incentive grant awards, and provide assistance as the principal may request as well as carrying out any other duties prescribed by the local school board. The local school board shall make provisions to allow any council to file a separate report to the local school board if the council considers it necessary. However, no council has any of the powers and duties reserved by law or regulation to the local school board. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this subsection, an area vocational center's school improvement council must be composed as defined exclusively by federal law. The council shall perform all duties and responsibilities provided for in any state or federal law which applies to these councils. In order to provide additional accountability for funds expended under statutory requirements, the elected members of the school improvement council shall serve a minimum term of two years. Parents of students or students in their last year of enrollment at an individual school may serve terms of one year only. The terms must be staggered and initially determined by lot. Elections of members to school improvement councils shall occur no later than October fifteenth of the school year. The elections must be organized to ensure that every parent and faculty member has an opportunity to vote each year. Within thirty days following the election, the names, addresses, terms of service, and status of all council members as a parent, teacher, student, or representative of the community must be provided to the School Improvement Council Assistance at the University of South Carolina for the purpose of sharing information. The district board of trustees shall include in its annual district report a summary of the training opportunities provided or to be provided for school improvement council members and professional educators in regard to council-related tasks and a summary of programs and activities involving parents and citizens in the school. (7) Each school district board of trustees shall: (a) review each school improvement plan and the annual updates for integration with district plans and objectives and school progress in meeting those goals and objectives; (b) cause to be prepared an annual written report to account for funds expended in each pupil classification as prescribed by the State Board of Education; (c) participate in the statewide testing program as prescribed by the State Board of Education; (d) maintain an ongoing systematic evaluation of the educational program needs in the district and shall develop a comprehensive annual and long-range plan for meeting these program needs. These plans shall include an assessment of needs. At minimum, the process of assessing needs and establishing goals and objectives must be carried out for each of the program classifications specified in Section 59-20-40(1)(c). Each school district board of trustees shall develop and execute a method of evaluating the extent to which the goals and objectives specified in its comprehensive plan are being achieved and shall annually report the results of its evaluation to the people of the school district and to the State Board of Education. (e) provide a program for staff development for all educational personnel. A portion of the funds in the foundation program must be used for this staff development that may include, but not be limited to: (1) college courses in education, subject area of certification or management; (2) teaching center offerings; (3) State Department of Education workshops; and (4) district-wide or in-school training for the purpose of fostering professional growth or improving the competency of all educational personnel. (f) in accordance with the format approved by the State Board of Education, annually submit to the State Board of Education and to the people of the district that district's fiscal report. (8) The State Department of Education shall: (a) develop, by September, 1993, a plan for offering help to districts and schools in designing and implementing the district and school comprehensive improvement plan; (b) develop, by December, 1993, with approval by the State Board of Education, criteria for monitoring the district and school plans; (c) review each district's annual fiscal report; (d) provide assistance to school districts in improving the programs, correcting the deficiencies, and in carrying out its staff development program; (e) develop or select and field test a competency-based student assessment program; (f) prepare an annual fiscal and programmatic report to the Governor and the General Assembly each year to assess compliance with this chapter and to make recommendations concerning necessary changes in this chapter; (g) in compliance with the intent of the chapter, waive the prescribed reporting practices if considered necessary by the State Board of Education and authorize the substitution of alternate reporting practices which accomplish the objectives implied in this section. This waiver may not be utilized to avoid full accountability and implementation of this chapter. (9) The Legislative Audit Council shall audit to assess compliance with this chapter as requested by the General Assembly. On the basis of these audits, the Legislative Audit Council shall make recommendations to the General Assembly concerning necessary changes in this chapter. (10) A twelve-member Education Finance Review Committee must be established to advise the General Assembly and review its implementation of this chapter. This advice and review may include, but not be limited to: (a) the cost of the defined minimum program; (b) provisions included in the defined minimum program; (c) the pupil classification weights in Section 59-20-40; (d) the formula for computing required local effort; (e) the ongoing evaluation of the education program needs of the school districts. The committee must be made up of three representatives from each of the following committees of the General Assembly - Senate Education, Senate Finance, House Education and Public Works, and House Ways and Means - appointed by each respective chairman. The committee shall seek the advice of professional educators and all other interested persons when formulating its recommendations.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-63-60 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 63 / Article 1 / Section 59-63-60
SECTION 59-63-60. School guards required to be safely attired.
Status: in_force

No person charged with the responsibility of assisting school children to cross streets near schools shall engage in such activity unless he is attired with some type of garment or equipment that can be clearly seen by the driver of an approaching motor vehicle. The school district official of each school district who is responsible for supervising such personnel shall be responsible for seeing that such persons within his district are furnished with the articles required by this section.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-119-160 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 119 / Article 1 / Section 59-119-160
SECTION 59-119-160. South Carolina Energy Research and Development Center established at Clemson University; advisory board; purposes.
Status: in_force

(1) There is hereby established a South Carolina Energy Research and Development Center to be located at, under the auspices of, and in conjunction with Clemson University. (2) Clemson University shall establish an advisory board for the center whose composition shall include members of the South Carolina Senate, House of Representatives and the Joint Legislative Committee on Energy and shall also include representatives from the Governor's office, private industry and state colleges and universities. (3) The Energy Research and Development Center may share with Clemson University existing personnel, facilities and equipment. (4) The purpose of the Energy Research and Development Center shall be to: (a) complement federal energy research and development efforts by addressing aspects of the energy problem solutions that would be unique and germane to South Carolina; (b) complement other state energy efforts by providing contracted technical support to various state agencies; (c) allow university personnel to undertake energy projects too large and too complex to be handled by standard academic units; and (d) conduct industrially-oriented energy projects as a service to the state's industries and commerce.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-146-140 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 146 / Section 59-146-140
SECTION 59-146-140. Proceeds of sale of state school facilities bonds.
Status: in_force

The proceeds of the sale of state school facilities bonds must be received by the State Treasurer and applied by the State Treasurer to the purposes for which issued, except that the accrued interest, if any, must be used to discharge in part the first interest to become due on the bonds, but the purchasers of the bonds are not liable for the proper application of the proceeds to the purposes for which they are intended. Effect of Amendment The 2004 amendment substituted "the State Treasurer" for "him" following " applied by", deleted "and the premium, if any, shall be used to discharge the payment of the first installment of principal to become due on such bonds," preceding ", but the purchasers" and substituted "must" for "shall" throughout.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-152-100 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 152 / Section 59-152-100
SECTION 59-152-100. Local partnership boards; use of grant funding.
Status: repealed

(A) Grant funds expended by First Steps partnerships must be used to address the needs of young children and their families as identified in the partnerships' comprehensive plans. The funds must be used to expand, extend, or improve the quality of provided services if there is evidence as to existing programs' effectiveness; offer new or previously unavailable services in the area; or increase access to services. Partnership grant funds may not supplant comparable current expenditures by counties or state agencies on behalf of young children and their families, and may not be used where other state or federal funding sources are available. Partnerships are expected to collaborate with other community organizations or entities expending funds on early childhood services designed to impact school readiness in order to maximize impact and minimize duplication of efforts. (B) At least seventy-five percent of state funds appropriated for programs must be used by the local partnership for evidence-based programs. Not more than twenty-five percent of state funds appropriated for programs to a local partnership may be used for evidence-informed programs. (C) All activities and services provided by a local partnership must be made available to young children and families on a voluntary basis and must focus solely on "school readiness" as defined in Section 59-152-25 by implementing programs geared specifically toward the achievement of First Steps goals pursuant to Section 59-152-30. (D) Any part of the initiative within the county strategic plan using local district resources within a school district must be conducted only with approval of the district's board of trustees. Editor's Note 2018 Act No. 152, SECTION 8, provides as follows: "SECTION 8. Section 20B. of Act 287 of 2014 [reauthorizing the South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Act until July 1, 2016] is repealed. Act 99 of 1999, South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Act, as amended by this act, is reauthorized until June 30, 2025." Effect of Amendment 2014 Act No. 287, SECTION 14, rewrote the section.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-53-150 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 53 / Article 2 / Section 59-53-150
SECTION 59-53-150. Legislative findings.
Status: in_force

The General Assembly finds that additional facilities and improvements will be required from time to time for certain technical education colleges and centers in the State which will be of benefit to those in attendance at such institutions and which are properly payable from the special student fee authorized by this article, and it has been determined to empower the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education acting for such institutions to provide such facilities and improvements through the procedures provided for in this article.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-34-30 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 34 / Section 59-34-30
SECTION 59-34-30. Entitlement to individualized education program; assessment; instruction in braille.
Status: in_force

Each legally blind student must be identified and offered an individualized education program (IEP) in consultation with a parent or legal guardian. While braille is not required, it is presumed that the need for braille reading and writing are valuable skills to be considered in the student's transition plan toward continuing in higher education and in broadening job and career opportunities. No child who is legally blind may be denied the opportunity to receive instructions in braille reading and writing on the basis that the child has the ability to read and write print. Each student must be given an assessment which must include an evaluation of the need for braille skills to be designed by the State Department of Education, and shall include strengths and deficits. The purpose of the assessment is to determine the most appropriate reading and writing media for the individual child and does not require the use of braille if other special education services are appropriate. Nothing in this section requires the inclusion of braille in a legally blind student's IEP.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-19-100 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 19 / Article 1 / Section 59-19-100
SECTION 59-19-100. Circumstances under which educational governing body of county shall have powers and duties of school trustees.
Status: in_force

Where the county educational system operates as a unit, the county board of education or the educational governing body of the county shall have all the powers and duties of school trustees.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-3-35 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 3 / Section 59-3-35
SECTION 59-3-35. Provision of fingerprint and DNA identification kits.
Status: in_force

(A) The Department of Education shall provide to all school districts and open-enrollment charter schools inkless, in-home fingerprint and DNA identification kits to be distributed throughout the district or school on request to the parent or legal custodian of any kindergarten, elementary, middle, or high school student. (B) A parent or legal custodian who receives a fingerprint and DNA identification kit may submit the kit to federal, state, tribal, or local law enforcement to help locate and return a missing or trafficked child. (C) Unless expressly appropriated by the General Assembly in order to meet the provisions of this act, the department shall not expend funds to procure kits.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-36-30 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 36 / Section 59-36-30
SECTION 59-36-30. Assistance of state advisory council.
Status: in_force

The state advisory council shall advise the Department of Education and the State Board of Education in developing a comprehensive service system for special education and related services to preschool children with disabilities. The assistance includes, but is not limited to: (1) a comprehensive method of identifying children with disabilities; (2) a public awareness program focusing on identification of preschool children with disabilities; (3) a coordinated system of personnel development for those who serve preschool children with disabilities; (4) formal interagency agreements which: (a) define the financial responsibility of each agency for providing special education and related services; (b) establish procedures for the transition of children served under Title 44, Chapter 7; and (c) contain procedures for resolving disputes.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-8-110 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 8 / Section 59-8-110
SECTION 59-8-110. Definitions.
Status: in_force

For purposes of this chapter: (1) "Department" means the South Carolina Department of Education. (2) "Education Scholarship Trust Fund," "ESTF," or "fund" means the individual account that is administered by the department to which funds are allocated to the parent of an eligible student to pay for qualifying expenses. (3) "Eligible school" means a South Carolina public school or a nonprofit South Carolina independent school where a student is enrolled full time, that chooses to participate in the program. "Eligible school" does not include a school in which a member of the General Assembly or an immediate family member of a member of the General Assembly has any direct financial interest. For purposes of this section, "immediate family member" means as defined in Section 8-13-100(18). "Eligible school" does not include a charter school. (4) "Eligible student" means a student who: (a) is a resident of this State; and (b)(i) has attained at least the age of five on or before September first of the school year in which scholarship funds are awarded; (ii) in School Year 2025-2026, has a household income that does not exceed three hundred percent of the federal poverty guidelines; and (iii) in School Year 2026-2027, and all subsequent years has a household income that does not exceed five hundred percent of the federal poverty guidelines. "Eligible student" does not include students participating in the Educational Credit for Exceptional Needs Children's Fund program, as provided in Section 12-6-3790 or a student who is not subject to the compulsory attendance requirements of Section 59-65-10. (5) "IDEA" means the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act found in 20 U.S.C. Section 1400, et seq. (6) "Parent" means a resident of this State who is the natural or adoptive parent, legal guardian, custodian, or other person with legal authority to act on behalf of an eligible student. (7) "Education service provider" means a person or organization approved by the department that receives payments from ESTF to provide educational goods and services to scholarship students. (8) "Program" means the ESTF program created by this chapter. (9) "Resident school" means the public school in which the student is zoned for attendance. (10) "Scholarship" means education funding allocated from an account established pursuant to this chapter. (11) "Scholarship student" means an eligible student who is participating in the Education Scholarship Trust Fund program. (12) "Substantial misuse" means wilfully and knowingly receiving or spending any portion of a scholarship for any purpose other than a qualifying expense. (13) "Trustee" means the individual or entity appointed by the State Superintendent of Education pursuant to Section 59-8-120(A)(2). (14) "Qualifying expense" means: (a) tuition and fees for attendance at an education service provider or eligible school; (b) textbooks, curriculum, or other instructional materials including, but not limited to, any supplemental materials or associated online instruction required by either a curriculum or an education service provider; (c) tutoring services approved by the department; (d) computer hardware or other technological devices that are used primarily for a scholarship student's educational needs and approved by the department or a licensed physician; (e) tuition and fees for an approved online education service provider or course; (f) fees for approved: (1) national norm-referenced examinations, advanced placement examinations, or similar assessments; (2) industry certification exams; or (3) examinations related to college or university admission; (g) educational services for pupils with disabilities from a licensed or accredited practitioner or provider including, but not limited to, occupational, behavioral, physical, and speech-language therapies; (h) approved contracted services from a public school district, or a public charter school including individual classes, after school tutoring services, transportation, or fees or costs associated with participation in extracurricular activities; (i) contracted teaching services and education classes approved by the department; (j) fees for transportation paid to a fee-for-service transportation provider for the scholarship student to travel to and from an eligible provider as defined in this section, but not to exceed three thousand dollars for each school year; (k) fees for interdistrict public school transfers; (l) cost of school uniforms which are required for attendance; (m) any consumables and items necessary to complete a curriculum or that are otherwise applicable to a course of study that has been approved by the department; or (n) any other educational expense approved by the department to enable personalized learning consistent with the intent of this act. A qualifying expense does not mean a duplicate service already offered as part of a student's enrollment in school. Validity For the validity of a prior version of this section, see Eidson v. South Carolina Department of Education, 906 S.E.2d 345, 444 S.C. 166 (2024). Editor's Note 2023 Act No. 8, SECTION 3, provides as follows: "SECTION 3. This act takes effect thirty days after approval by the Governor, provided that upon approval of this act by the Governor, the Department of Education shall begin undertaking and executing responsibilities incidental to the implementation of this act so that the provisions of this act may be fully implemented thirty days after approval by the Governor." 2025 Act No. 11, SECTION 16, provides as follows: "SECTION 16. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor. Current eligible participants may continue receiving benefits under the Education Scholarship Trust Fund, until the end of the 2024-2025 School Year." Effect of Amendment 2025 Act No. 11, SECTION 1, rewrote the definitions for "Eligible school", "Eligible student", "Resident school", and "Qualifying expense", and inserted the definition for "Trustee".
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-41-70 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 41 / Section 59-41-70
SECTION 59-41-70. Obtaining or expending scholarship funds other than for tuition unlawful.
Status: in_force

It shall be unlawful for any person to obtain, attempt to obtain, expend or attempt to expend, any scholarship funds provided by this chapter for any purpose other than in payment of, or reimbursement for, the tuition cost of the child to whom such scholarship has been awarded at the institution he or she is authorized to attend under his or her scholarship grant.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-18-350 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 18 / Article 3 / Section 59-18-350
SECTION 59-18-350. Cyclical review of state standards and assessments; analysis of assessment results.
Status: in_force

(A) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the Education Oversight Committee, shall provide for a cyclical review by academic area of the state standards and assessments to ensure that the standards and assessments are maintaining high expectations for learning and teaching. At a minimum, each academic area should be reviewed and updated every seven years. After each academic area is reviewed, a report on the recommended revisions must be presented to the Education Oversight Committee and the State Board of Education for consideration. The previous content standards shall remain in effect until the recommended revisions are adopted pursuant to Section 59-18-355. As a part of the review, a task force of parents, business and industry persons, community leaders, and educators, to include special education teachers, shall examine the standards and assessment system to determine rigor and relevancy. (B) For the purpose of developing new college and career readiness English/language arts and mathematics state content standards, a cyclical review must be performed pursuant to subsection (A) for English/language arts and mathematics state content standards not developed by the South Carolina Department of Education. The review must begin on or before January 1, 2015, and the new college and career readiness state content standards must be implemented for the 2015-2016 school year. (C) The State Department of Education annually shall convene a team of curriculum experts to analyze the results of the assessments, including performance item by item. This analysis must yield a plan for disseminating additional information about the assessment results and instruction and the information must be disseminated to districts not later than January fifteenth of the subsequent year. Editor's Note 2014 Act No. 200, SECTION 5, provides as follows: "SECTION 5. On the effective date of this act, South Carolina will no longer be a governing or advisory state in the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium. Furthermore, South Carolina may not adopt or administer the Smarter Balanced Assessment." Effect of Amendment The 2008 amendment renumbered this section from SECTION 59-18-360; in subsection (A), deleted the second sentence requiring initial review by 2005; in the second and third sentences added "and the State Board of Education"; and added the fifth sentence relating to the previous content standards remaining in place; and, at the beginning of subsection (B), deleted "Beginning with the 2005 assessment results,". 2014 Act No. 200, SECTION 4, in subsection (A), deleted the former fourth sentence, relating to approval by the Education Oversight Committee, and rewrote the 4th sentence, relating to the previous content standards; added subsection (B); and redesignated former subsection (B) as subsection (C).
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-103-50 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 103 / Article 1 / Section 59-103-50
SECTION 59-103-50. Advisory Council of Private College Presidents.
Status: in_force

There shall be established, under the auspices of the commission, an Advisory Council of Private College Presidents to counsel with and advise the commission with regard to matters concerning nonpublic colleges and their role in overall programs of higher education in the State. The council shall consist of eight members selected by the South Carolina College Council. Terms of members shall be for two years. A chairman shall be elected by the members. The council shall meet upon the call of the chairman and shall meet at least once annually with the commission. The members of the council serving on this section's effective date may continue to serve until the expiration of their terms.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-66-20 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 66 / Section 59-66-20
SECTION 59-66-20. School safety coordinator grant program; funding; requirements.
Status: in_force

(A) The General Assembly annually shall provide funds in the general appropriations act to be awarded to school districts which choose to employ safety coordinators in accordance with this section. State funds may be awarded for not more than one safety coordinator for each county. The amount of the award for a county for fiscal year 1995-96 may not exceed twenty-five thousand dollars, except for counties which are designated as economically distressed pursuant to Section 41-43-180. Economically distressed counties participating in the program shall receive additional state funds for fiscal year 1995-96 in the amount of five thousand five hundred dollars. The amount which may be awarded for a county, including the additional state funds for economically distressed counties, must be increased each fiscal year after 1995-96 by the same percentage as the average teacher salary. (B) An award of state funds to school districts under this program is contingent upon a district or group of districts jointly matching the state grant with an equal amount of funds and in-kind contributions; however, school districts located primarily within an economically distressed county are not required to match any portion of the state grant. Additionally, funds only may be awarded where the duties of the safety coordinator relate exclusively to school and district safety functions. It is the intent of the General Assembly that the safety coordinator have a strong background in law enforcement, safety matters, or coordination of relevant services. (C) If a county consists of more than one school district, any or all school districts within the county may apply jointly for funds for a safety coordinator. Each participating school district must provide a portion of the local matching funds based upon the relationship the district's student membership bears to the total student membership of all participating districts within the county. Nonparticipating school districts in multi-district counties may begin participation in the program by contributing to the local match in the same manner as those school districts originally participating in the program. (D) When more than one school district in a multi-district county is provided funds under this section, the safety coordinator must be an employee of the school district with the largest student membership during the immediately preceding school year, unless the participating school districts have a memorandum of agreement providing otherwise; however, the safety coordinator must provide services to all participating school districts. (E) For purposes of this section, "student membership" means the cumulative one hundred thirty-five day average daily membership during the immediately preceding school year. (F) The State Board of Education, through the State Department of Education, shall develop and implement regulations establishing the safety coordinator grant program.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-25-730 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 25 / Article 7 / Section 59-25-730
SECTION 59-25-730. Hearing on complaint.
Status: in_force

Upon the filing of such complaint, the county board of education shall fix a date for the hearing thereof and at least ten days prior to the date fixed shall notify the complainant and the board of trustees of the school district in which the teacher is employed of the time and place of such hearing. It shall set forth in such notice the grounds of such alleged discrimination.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-150-370 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 150 / Section 59-150-370
SECTION 59-150-370. HOPE Scholarships; eligibility; administration; reporting requirement.
Status: in_force

(A) SC HOPE Scholarships are hereby established and are provided by the State. These scholarships are authorized in an amount of up to two thousand five hundred dollars, plus a three hundred dollar book allowance to cover the cost of attendance, as defined by the Commission on Higher Education by regulation, during the first year of attendance only, to an eligible student attending a four-year public or independent institution as defined in subsection (B) who does not also qualify for a LIFE Scholarship or a Palmetto Fellows Scholarship. (B) For purposes of this chapter, a "public or independent institution" that a student may attend to receive a SC HOPE Scholarship includes the following: (1) a South Carolina four-year public institution as defined in Section 59-103-5 and a four-year independent institution as defined in Section 59-113-50; (2) a public or independent bachelor's level institution chartered before 1962 whose major campus and headquarters are located within South Carolina; or an independent bachelor's level institution which is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools; or an independent bachelor's level institution which is accredited by the New England Association of Colleges and Schools. Institutions whose sole purpose is religious or theological training, or the granting of professional degrees do not meet the definition of "public or independent institution" for purposes of this chapter; and (3) not for profit institutions accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges. (C) A student is eligible to receive a SC HOPE Scholarship if he meets the criteria for receiving and maintaining the Legislative Incentives for Future Excellence (LIFE) Scholarship except that a minimum Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or ACT score and requisite class rank are not required for eligibility for the SC HOPE Scholarship. These SC HOPE Scholarships must be granted and awarded as provided in this section. (D) These SC HOPE Scholarships in combination with all other grants and scholarships must not exceed the cost of attendance at the particular institutions referenced in subsection (B). (E) The Commission on Higher Education must promulgate regulations and establish procedures to administer the provisions of this section. (F) All institutions participating in the SC HOPE Scholarship Program must report their enrollment and other relevant data as solicited by the Commission on Higher Education which may audit these institutions to ensure compliance with this provision. Effect of Amendment The 2007 amendment, in subsection (A), substituted "three hundred" for "one hundred fifty" dollars. 2024 Act No. 191, SECTION 3, in (B), added (3).
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-150-350 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 150 / Section 59-150-350
SECTION 59-150-350. Education Lottery Account management.
Status: in_force

(A) All lottery proceeds are the property of the commission, to be held in a separate and distinct account, apart from the State Treasury. Annual administrative expenses must not exceed fifteen percent of gross lottery revenues for the year, including lottery retailer commissions and incentives. The General Assembly shall consider, in the allocation of funds from the Education Lottery Account, the allocation of monies in the amount the General Assembly determines for the Commission on Higher Education and for the Administrative Law Court, both to help defray their expenses incurred in the performance of their duties pursuant to this chapter; except that the amount of funding for the Commission on Higher Education and the Administrative Law Court must be allocated by the General Assembly in its annual general appropriations bill or any bill appropriating monies for previous or current fiscal years. As nearly as practical, an amount no less than forty-five percent of the amount of money from the actual sale of lottery tickets or shares must be made available as prize money, except that this item does not create a lien, an entitlement, a cause of action, or other private right, and rights of holders of tickets or shares must be determined by the commission in setting the terms of its lottery or lotteries. (B) Before the sixteenth day of each month, the commission shall deposit to the State Treasurer, for credit to the Education Lottery Account for the preceding month, the amount of all net proceeds from the preceding month. The State Comptroller General shall account separately for net proceeds by establishing and maintaining a restricted account known as the Education Lottery Account. Upon their deposit with the State, monies representing a deposit of net proceeds become the unencumbered property of the State of South Carolina and the commission must not agree or undertake otherwise. The monies may be invested by the State Treasurer pursuant to state investment practices. All earnings attributable to the investments are also the unencumbered property of the State and accrue to the credit of the Education Lottery Account. (C)(1) Pursuant to Section 11-9-880, the Board of Economic Advisors, in conjunction with the commission, must provide to the General Assembly, in a separate estimate, the amount of projected net lottery proceeds for the upcoming fiscal year. The State Treasurer's Office must estimate the annual interest earnings from commission funds. All interest earnings and other net proceeds must be used for educational purposes and programs. (2) Appropriations from the Education Lottery Account must be for educational purposes and programs only as defined in Section 59-150-350(D). These appropriations must be used to supplement and not supplant existing funds used for education. (3) If expenditures for particular educational purposes or programs as defined in this chapter are less than the amounts appropriated, the excess may be retained in the account and expended the following fiscal year for those particular purposes or programs. (D) At the beginning of the first fiscal year after the state lottery becomes operational, the Comptroller General shall certify the amount of net proceeds including investment earnings on the net proceeds credited to and accrued in the Education Lottery Account during the preceding fiscal year. The sum of certified net proceeds and investment earnings must be designated as annual lottery proceeds. Appropriations from the Education Lottery Account must be allocated only for educational purposes and educational programs by the General Assembly in its annual general appropriations bill or any bill appropriating monies for previous or current fiscal years. Funds made available from the Education Lottery Account must be used to provide Palmetto Fellows Scholarships to all eligible applicants, to provide LIFE Scholarships for eligible resident students attending four-year public institutions in those amounts provided by law; to the South Carolina State Library for public library state aid, to be distributed to county public libraries on a per capita basis and to be used for educational technology delivery, upgrade, and maintenance; to the Commission on Higher Education for tuition assistance at state technical colleges and two-year public institutions; for the SC HOPE Scholarship Program; to the Department of Education for school-based grants for pilot programs, to include programs providing deregulation as requested by school districts with an overall absolute or improved designation of average or better, with first priority given to schools reported as average, below average, or unsatisfactory in accordance with the Education Accountability Act; to the Department of Education to fund homework centers, and these funds must be allocated to the local school districts based on a per pupil basis and may be used for salaries for certified teachers and for transportation costs, provided that priority in the distribution of funds must be given to schools designated as below average or unsatisfactory in accordance with the Education Accountability Act; to the Commission on Higher Education for higher education assistance, including need-based grants, grants to teachers for advanced education with priority to annual grants earmarked for teachers working toward their masters' degrees or advanced education in their areas of certification, or both; for the National Guard Tuition Repayment Program; and funding for elementary and secondary public education as determined pursuant to the Education Accountability Act of 1998 and education improvement legislation enacted into law after the effective date of this chapter; new programs enacted by the General Assembly for public institutions of higher learning, including public four-year colleges and universities and their branches and two-year colleges, as defined in Section 59-103-5, and state technical colleges, which programs may include the creation of endowed chairs at the state's universities, with an emphasis in the areas of, but not limited to, engineering, computer science, and the sciences; to the State Department of Education for the purchase or repair of school buses; to the South Carolina Educational Television Commission for digitalization; to the South Carolina Education Scholarship Trust Fund; to the Commission on Higher Education to administer a construction and renovation fund for the historically black colleges and universities, and to the Higher Education Tuition Grants Commission to administer tuition grants. The proportion of total recurring general fund and special fund revenues of the State expended for the total of public elementary, secondary, and higher education allocations in any fiscal year must not be less than the proportions in the fiscal year immediately before the fiscal year in which education revenues are first received from a state lottery, and must not be reduced or supplanted later by revenues received from a state lottery. (E) Appropriations by the General Assembly in its annual general appropriations bill or any bill appropriating monies for previous or current fiscal years for educational purposes and programs from the account not committed during the fiscal year must be credited to the Education Lottery Account. (F)(1) A program or project started specifically from lottery proceeds must not be continued from the general fund, but the programs must be adjusted or discontinued according to available lottery proceeds, unless the General Assembly by general law establishes eligibility requirements and later appropriates specific funds within the general appropriations act. The provisions of this subsection do not prohibit the providing of supplemental funding to programs or projects in existence on the effective date of this chapter from lottery proceeds; provided, that funding for these existing programs or projects from the state general fund, the Education Improvement Act, or other nonlottery sources must not be reduced below that provided on the effective date of this chapter. (2) A surplus in the Education Lottery Account must not be reduced by the General Assembly to correct any nonlottery deficiencies in sums available for general appropriations and vice versa, and a surplus in the Education Lottery Account must not be included in a surplus calculated for setting aside any nonlottery reserve, specifically, without limitation, the General Reserve Fund or the Capital Reserve Fund. Code Commissioner's Note At the direction of the Code Commissioner, "Administrative Law Court" was substituted for all references to "Administrative Law Judge Division", pursuant to 2004 Act No. 202, SECTION 3. Editor's Note 2001 Act No. 59, SECTION 9, provides as follows: "Except for Section 59-150-350(D), (E), and (F), provisions of this chapter relating to guidelines for the appropriation of lottery proceeds must not be amended in a general appropriations act, but only in a separate piece of legislation solely for that purpose and by a majority vote of those present and voting in both houses of the General Assembly." 2025 Act No. 11, SECTION 16, provides as follows: "SECTION 16. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor. Current eligible participants may continue receiving benefits under the Education Scholarship Trust Fund, until the end of the 2024-2025 School Year." Effect of Amendment 2025 Act No. 11, SECTION 14, in (D), in the fourth sentence, inserted "to the South Carolina Education Scholarship Trust Fund;".
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-58-110 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 58 / Section 59-58-110
SECTION 59-58-110. Procedure for denial, revocation, or suspension of license; notice; probation.
Status: in_force

(A) Before a final proceeding to deny, revoke, or suspend a license or permit, the commission shall give to the person to be affected by the decision notice of facts and conduct which warrant the intended action and an opportunity to show compliance with the minimum requirements for a license or permit. If the commission determines that the violations are habitual, wilful, and therefore likely to reoccur, the commission may proceed with denial or revocation though the institution complies or agrees to comply with the standards for licensure. (B) In any final agency proceeding to deny a license or permit to any person properly applying for one, or to revoke or suspend the license or permit of any licensee or permit holder, the commission shall give the person to be affected by the intended action notice an opportunity for a hearing as provided in the Administrative Procedures Act. (C) The commission may give the institution a period of probation if in its judgment any unsatisfactory condition can reasonably be corrected within such time. The commission may also require that an institution delay a new class term.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-26-35 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 26 / Section 59-26-35
SECTION 59-26-35. South Carolina Educator Preparation Report Card.
Status: in_force

(A) The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, with the assistance of the Department of Education, State Board of Education, the Center for Research on Teacher Education (SC-TEACHER), and the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office, shall form a commission to conduct a detailed assessment of the current data infrastructure, develop metrics, determine weightings, construct a unified data upload system, and construct public and private facing data reports including, but not limited to, annually publishing before November first an online report card known as the "South Carolina Educator Preparation Report Card". The report card must be made available on the State Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education's websites. The commission shall develop a format that each educator preparation program must use on its website that shows all required information regarding its respective program. The report card shall evaluate the ability of educator preparation programs, including alternative programs, to prepare new teachers for success in South Carolina's classrooms, as well as describe the school and district contexts in which completers work. The report card must include data on a variety of measures to provide an overall picture of how well each educator preparation program prepares effective educators and meets state goals including, but not limited to, the following: (1) number of undergraduate and graduate completers; (2) placement and one, three, and five year retention rates by districts and regions of the State; (3) performance-based assessments of candidates; (4) ability of program to recruit a strong, diverse cohort of candidates and prepare them to teach in the content areas of greatest need; (5) quality of clinical experiences, including access to qualified and trained mentors, time in the field, and opportunities to apply knowledge and skills in the clinical setting; (6) effectiveness of individuals who completed a provider's program and are employed in a public school classroom. The information must be differentiated by provider and, where applicable, across content areas; and (7) graduate and employer satisfaction. (B) Under consultation with the commission, SC-TEACHER shall develop metrics and instrumentation to evaluate the working conditions of educators, extent and quality of mentoring available to new educators, and universal graduate and employer satisfaction surveys. (C) The State Department of Education, each educator preparation program, and each school district shall report all data to SC-TEACHER as requested by the State Board of Education to complete the evaluation.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-25-200 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 25 / Article 3 / Section 59-25-200
SECTION 59-25-200. Revocation or suspension of certificate; request for hearing; conduct of hearing; determination by board.
Status: in_force

Within fifteen days after receipt of notice of revocation or suspension, such person may serve upon the chairman of the State Board of Education or the State Superintendent of Education a written request for either a public or private hearing before the board. The hearing shall be held by the board not less than ten days nor more than twenty days after the request is served, and a notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be given the person not less than four days prior to the date of the hearing. At the hearing, which shall be as summary and as simple as reasonably may be, the parties may appear in person and by counsel, if desired, and may present any testimony, under oath, or other evidence as may be pertinent. Within fifteen days following the hearing, the board shall determine whether there existed just cause for the notice of revocation or suspension and shall render its written order accordingly either affirming, withdrawing, or modifying the notice of revocation or suspension.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-25-770 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 25 / Article 7 / Section 59-25-770
SECTION 59-25-770. Powers and duties of court of common pleas; warrant for production of witnesses.
Status: in_force

The court of common pleas shall, on application of the county board, enforce by proper proceedings the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production and examination of books, papers and records and shall have the power to punish as for contempt of court, by a fine or imprisonment or both, the unexcused failure or refusal to attend and give testimony or produce books, papers and records as may have been required in any subpoena issued by the county board. The county board may issue to the sheriff of the county in which any hearing is held a warrant requiring him to produce at the hearing any witness who shall have ignored or failed to comply with any subpoena issued by the county board and duly served upon such witness. Such warrant shall authorize the sheriff to arrest and produce at the hearing such witness, and it shall be his duty so to do. But the failure of a witness so to appear in response to any such subpoena may be excused on the same grounds as provided by law in the courts of this State as to the attendance of witnesses and jurors.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-73-50 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 73 / Section 59-73-50
SECTION 59-73-50. Voting at and conduct of election.
Status: in_force

At such election only such electors as return real or personal property for taxation and who exhibit their tax receipts and registration certificates, as required in general elections, shall be allowed to vote. At such election the board of trustees shall act as managers, and the election shall be conducted as is provided by law for the conduct of general elections. At the election each elector favoring the proposed levy shall cast a ballot containing the word "Yes" printed or written thereon, and each elector opposed to said levy shall cast a ballot containing the word "No" printed or written thereon.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-1-425 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 1 / Article 5 / Section 59-1-425
SECTION 59-1-425. Beginning and length of school term; make-up days; waiver; instructional days.
Status: in_force

(A) A local school district board of trustees of the State has the authority to establish an annual school calendar for teachers, staff, and students. The statutory school term is one hundred ninety days annually and must consist of a minimum of one hundred eighty instructional days covering at least nine calendar months. A local school district board of trustees may offer the required instructional days at any time during the school year, consistent with the law. Except as may be waived in this section or accompanying regulations, a local school district shall provide at least one thousand eighty instructional hours over the statutory school term. The opening date for students must not be before the third Monday in August, except for schools operating on a year-round modified school calendar. Four days must be used for collegial professional development based upon the educational standards as required by Section 59-18-300. The professional development must address, at a minimum, academic achievement standards including strengthening teachers' knowledge in their content area, teaching techniques, and assessment. Districts must verify completion of the professional development required in this section annually when reporting the number of days worked by each certified employee to the Department of Education. At least two days must be designated as staff workdays for the preparation of opening of schools. On these days, teachers and instructional assistants must be afforded time that is self-directed and free from assigned meetings or training in order to evaluate student academic data and to plan and prepare instructional materials and classroom spaces for the start of the school year. The remaining four days may be used for teacher planning, academic plans, and parent conferences. The number of instructional hours in an instructional day may vary according to local board policy and does not have to be uniform among the schools in the district. (B) Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, all school days missed because of snow, extreme weather conditions, or other disruptions requiring schools to close must be made up. All school districts shall designate annually at least three days within their school calendars to be used as make-up days in the event of these occurrences. If those designated days have been used or are no longer available, the local school board of trustees may lengthen the hours of school operation by no less than one hour per day for the total number of hours missed, operate schools on Saturday, or may waive up to three days. A waiver granted by the local board of trustees of the requirement for making up the three or fewer days missed only may be authorized by a majority vote of the local school board, and, after the completion of the 2014-2015 school year, may not be granted for a school in the district until the school has made up three full days, or the equivalent number of hours, missed due to snow, extreme weather, or other disruptions requiring the school to close during the same school year in which the waiver is sought. When a district waives a make-up day pursuant to this section, the make-up day also is waived for all charter schools located in the district and for all students participating in a home schooling program approved by the board of trustees of the district in which the student resides. Schools operating on a four-by-four block schedule shall make every effort to make up the time during the semester in which the days are missed. A plan to make up days by lengthening the school day must be approved by the Department of Education before implementation. Tutorial instruction for grades 7 through 12 may be taught on Saturday at the direction of the local school board. If a local school board authorizes make-up days on Saturdays, tutorial instruction normally offered on Saturday for seventh through twelfth graders must be scheduled at an alternative time. (C) The State Board of Education may waive the requirements of making up days beyond the three days forgiven by the local school district, not to exceed three additional days missed because of snow, extreme weather conditions, or other disruptions requiring schools to close. Such a waiver only may be considered and granted upon the request of the local board of trustees through a majority vote of that local school board. The State Department annually before July first shall provide the General Assembly with a detailed report of information from each district listing the number of: (1) days missed and the reason, regardless of whether any were missed; (2) days made up; and (3) days waived. (D) If a school is closed early due to snow, extreme weather conditions, or other disruptions, the day may count towards the required minimum to the extent allowed by State Board of Education policy. (E) The instructional day calculation for secondary students shall exclude lunch. The instructional day calculation for elementary students may include lunch. (F) Elementary and secondary schools may reduce the length of the instructional day to not less than three hours for not more than three days each school year for staff development, teacher conferences, or for the purpose of administering end-of-semester and end-of-year examinations. (G) Priority during the instructional day must be given to teaching and learning tasks. Class interruptions must be limited only to emergencies. Volunteer blood drives as determined by the principal may be conducted at times which would not interfere with classroom instruction such as study period, lunch period, and before and after school. (H) The State Board of Education may waive the school opening date requirement pursuant to subsection (A) of this section on a showing of good cause or for an educational purpose. For the purposes of this section: (1) "Good cause" means that schools in a district have been closed eight days per year during any four of the last ten years because of severe weather conditions, energy shortages, power failures, or other emergency situations. (2) "Educational purpose" means a district establishes a need to adopt a different calendar for a: (a) specific school to accommodate a special program offered generally to the student body of that school; (b) school that primarily serves a special population of students; or (c) defined program within a school. The state board may grant the waiver for an educational purpose for that specific school or defined program to the extent that the state board finds that the educational purpose is reasonable, the accommodation is necessary to accomplish the educational purpose, and the request is not an attempt to circumvent the opening date set forth in this subsection. Waiver requests for educational purposes may not be used to accommodate system-wide class scheduling preferences. Nothing in this subsection prohibits a district from offering supplemental or additional educational programs or activities outside of the calendar adopted under this section. Editor's Note 2025 Act No. 12, SECTION 1, provides as follows: "SECTION 1. This act may be cited as the 'Educator Assistance Act.'" Effect of Amendment 2015 Act No. 21, SECTION 1, rewrote (B) and (C). 2016 Act No. 281, SECTION 1, in (A), made grammatical changes. 2024 Act No. 127, SECTION 4, in (A), in the second sentence, substituted "instructional days" for "days of instruction", inserted the third and fourth sentences, and in the fifth sentence, deleted "However, beginning with the 2007-2008 school year," from the beginning"; and rewrote (E). 2025 Act No. 12, SECTION 5, in (A), in the sixth sentence, substituted "Four days" for "Three days", added the eighth, ninth, and tenth sentences, and in the eleventh sentence, substituted "The remaining four days" for "No more than two days may be used for preparation of opening of schools and the remaining five days".
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-53-1120 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 53 / Article 14 / Section 59-53-1120
SECTION 59-53-1120. Powers and duties; name of institution.
Status: in_force

(A) The commission is responsible for the development and implementation of an adequate vocational and technical training program, which includes, but is not limited to, the following: (1) a crash program coordinated with our industrial expansion effort, which will provide immediate training for established industries and provide immediate training for particular industries; (2) technical training programs primarily designed to train high school graduates as technicians for initial employment in industry; and (3) provide trade extension courses to persons who desire employment in industries and also to those presently employed who wish to improve their skills. (B) The commission, in carrying out these programs, shall cooperate with all school districts and all county, state, and federal agencies designed to further technical education. The commission may purchase or lease equipment, hire personnel, including a president and instructors, enter into contracts, make regulations, and do other things necessary to carry out the provisions of this act, or to qualify to receive state or federal aid under any present or future statute, policy, or regulation. The commission is considered an operating unit under the general laws governing the lending of funds for capital improvements by the State Educational Finance Commission. (C) The educational institution created by the commission, in its discretion, may be named Spartanburg Technical College, Spartanburg Community College, or any variation the commission considers appropriate However, for purposes of all provisions of law governing the operation of the institution, it shall be considered a technical college.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-19-93 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 19 / Article 1 / Section 59-19-93
SECTION 59-19-93. Adoption of procurement code by school district; suspension of distribution of funds for noncompliance.
Status: in_force

Distributions of funds to a school district pursuant to the South Carolina Education Improvement Act of 1984 must be suspended after June 30, 1985, unless the school district has adopted and filed with the Division of General Services of the State Department of Administration a procurement code modeled on the South Carolina Consolidated Procurement Code or the model set forth in the Report of the Local Government Task Force on Procurement. All suspended funds must be released to the district at the time the district files an adopted procurement code and all subsequent distributions must be made as provided by law.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-63-217 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 63 / Article 3 / Section 59-63-217
SECTION 59-63-217. Barring enrollment of student; grounds; notice and hearing; duration of bar.
Status: repealed

(A) In determining whether or not a student meets the standards of conduct and behavior promulgated by the board of trustees necessary for first time enrollment and attendance in a school in the district, the board shall consider nonschool records, the student's disciplinary records in any school in which the student was previously enrolled as these records relate to the adjudication of delinquency in any jurisdiction, within or without this State, of violations or activities which constitute violent crimes under Section 16-1-60, adjudications for assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, the unlawful use or possession of weapons, or the unlawful sale of drugs whether or not considered to be drug trafficking. Based on this consideration of the student's record, the board may bar his enrollment in the schools of the district. (B) If the board bars a student from enrolling pursuant to this section, notice must be provided to the student's parent or legal guardian and the student is entitled to a hearing and all other procedural rights afforded under state law to a student subject to expulsion. (C) The bar to enrollment allowed by this section applies for a maximum of one year. After the bar is lifted, a student may reapply for enrollment and the board shall order the student enrolled if he otherwise meets enrollment criteria. Editor's Note 2010 Act No. 273, SECTION 7.C, provides: "Wherever in the 1976 Code of Laws reference is made to the common law offense of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, it means assault and battery with intent to kill, as contained in repealed Section 16-3-620, and, except for references in Section 16-1-60 and Section 17-25-45, wherever in the 1976 Code reference is made to assault and battery with intent to kill, it means attempted murder as defined in Section 16-3-29."
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-133-350 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 133 / Article 3 / Section 59-133-350
SECTION 59-133-350. Authorizations granted by article to remain in full force and effect.
Status: in_force

The authorizations granted by this article must remain of full force and effect until they are rescinded by subsequent enactment, and no time limit is set for the issuance of bonds pursuant to this article.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-103-130 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 103 / Article 1 / Section 59-103-130
SECTION 59-103-130. Colleges and universities to emphasize teaching as career opportunity.
Status: in_force

The Commission on Higher Education shall adopt guidelines whereby the publicly supported colleges and universities of this State shall emphasize teaching as a career opportunity and provide students interested in a teaching career with opportunities to tutor other students.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-53-1850 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 53 / Article 21 / Section 59-53-1850
SECTION 59-53-1850. Disbursement of funds.
Status: in_force

Monies appropriated pursuant to Sections 59-53-1810 to 59-53-1870 must be paid out upon the order of the State Board of Education, duly countersigned and approved by the secretary of the State Board of Education, and itemized vouchers must be filed with the Comptroller General as in the case of other funds. For high schools and joint career and technology schools having a career and technology agriculture program, monies appropriated for this purpose must be disbursed for use by the schools to conduct career and technology agriculture programs on a full-time twelve-month per year basis. The provisions of this section do not prohibit monies appropriated for career and technology agriculture to be used in programs of less than twelve months each year. The local school board shall decide whether all or part of its career and technology agricultural program is twelve months or less than twelve months after consideration of the local board's needs assessment for career and technology agriculture and the findings of the Clemson University's review of the local career and technology agricultural program. Effect of Amendment The 2005 amendment, in the second paragraph, substituted "career and technology" for "vocational" throughout and in the third sentence substituted "Clemson University's" for "State Department of Education's", and made nonsubstantive language changes throughout both paragraphs.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-53-1010 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 53 / Article 13 / Section 59-53-1010
SECTION 59-53-1010. Creation of commission; membership; officers.
Status: in_force

There is hereby created in Orangeburg and Calhoun Counties the Orangeburg-Calhoun Area Technical Education Commission. The Commission shall be a body politic and corporate, and shall consist of seven members. Each member shall be appointed by the Governor, upon the recommendation of a majority of the resident members of the legislative delegation of his county, and each member shall be a qualified registered elector of the county he represents. Five members shall be appointed from Orangeburg County for terms of four years and until their successors are appointed and qualify, except that of those first appointed, two shall serve for two years, two shall serve for three years and one shall serve for four years. Two members shall be appointed from Calhoun County for terms of four years and until their successors are appointed and qualify, except that of those first appointed, one shall serve for two years and one shall serve for four years. The length of the initial terms of the members shall be determined by lot. Any vacancy shall be filled in the manner of the original appointment for the unexpired portion of the term only. As soon as possible after the initial appointments have been made, the Commission shall organize by electing one of its members as chairman, one as vice-chairman, and one as secretary. A transcript of the record of the initial organization shall be filed with the clerk of court of each county. The terms of the initial appointees shall be extended so that all terms will expire on the first of July of the appropriate year.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-119-120 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 119 / Article 1 / Section 59-119-120
SECTION 59-119-120. Division of public land fund under act of Congress.
Status: in_force

All sums which shall be received by the State from the United States Government under the provisions of the act of Congress, approved August 30, 1890 entitled "An Act to Apply a Portion of the Public Lands to the more Complete Endowment and Support of Colleges for the Benefit of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts Established under the Provisions of an Act of Congress approved July second, eighteen hundred and sixty-two," shall be equally divided between South Carolina State College and Clemson University to be applied to the purposes specified in such act.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-13-150 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 13 / Section 59-13-150
SECTION 59-13-150. Contents of annual reports.
Status: in_force

The annual report of the county superintendent of education shall contain the complete statistics of all schools within his county supported in whole or in part from the public funds, as may be required of him by the State Superintendent of Education.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-125-520 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 125 / Article 5 / Section 59-125-520
SECTION 59-125-520. Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this article: (1) "Admissions fee" means the specially designated admissions fee or charge which may, in addition to other charges, be imposed by the trustees upon persons admitted to any event held at an athletic facility, for the purpose of providing funds to assist in the repayment of bonds. (2) "Athletic department" means the athletic department of Winthrop. (3) "Athletic facilities" means all facilities designated by the trustees as intercollegiate athletic facilities now owned or hereafter acquired by Winthrop. (4) "Bond" or "bonds" means any note, bond, installment contract, or other evidence of indebtedness issued pursuant to this article. (5) "Bond reserve fund" means the special fund which may be established by the trustees pursuant to this article, which must be in the custody of the State Treasurer or its corporate trust designee and which is primarily established for the purpose of providing a reserve with which to meet the payment of the principal of and interest on bonds in the event that payments otherwise required from the debt service fund are insufficient to meet the payment of the principal and interest as and when they become due and payable. (6) "Debt service fund" means the fund established by this article for the payment of principal of and interest on bonds, which must be in the custody of the State Treasurer or its corporate trust designee. (7) "Net revenues" means all revenues remaining after payment of the operating and maintenance expenses of the athletic department but before provision is made for depreciation, amortization, nonmandatory transfers, and interest expenses of the athletic department for a given fiscal year. (8) "Revenues" means all revenues or other income, including investment income, received by the athletic department from the operation of the athletic department and the athletic facilities, and all gifts, bequests, contributions, and donations received by the trustees or Winthrop from any persons, including from any athletic booster organization, for use in connection with the operations of the athletic department, plus any other unrestricted revenues of the athletic department not otherwise pledged that may be made applicable by the trustees to the payment of the principal and interest of the bonds, including such revenues which may fall into the category of nonmandatory transfers as such term is used in generally accepted accounting principles, but excluding: (i) gifts, bequests, contributions, and donations restricted to a particular purpose inconsistent with their use for the payment of the principal, premium, or interest on any obligations of the trustees or Winthrop; (ii) the proceeds of any borrowings; (iii) state appropriations of any sort; and (iv) revenues, income, receipts, and money received by the trustees or Winthrop for purposes other than those related to the athletic department. (9) "Special student fee" means the fee authorized by this article to be established by the trustees and which may be imposed upon persons in attendance at any academic session of Winthrop in order to provide funds to assist in the repayment of bonds. (10) "Authority" means the State Fiscal Accountability Authority. (11) "Trustees" means the Board of Trustees of Winthrop or any successor body. (12) "Winthrop" means Winthrop University.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-53-1330 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 53 / Article 16 / Section 59-53-1330
SECTION 59-53-1330. Annual local accounting; funding for capital improvements.
Status: in_force

The commission shall make its local accounting annually in the same manner as school districts. The commission must be considered an operating unit under the general laws governing the lending of funds for capital improvements by the State Educational Finance Commission.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-33-120 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 33 / Article 1 / Section 59-33-120
SECTION 59-33-120. Regulations; background checks.
Status: in_force

In consultation with relevant stakeholders including, but not limited to, the South Carolina Association of the Deaf and the South Carolina Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, the State Board of Education shall develop and promulgate regulations for the appropriate credentialing of sign language interpreters in the public and special schools of this State. Interpreters for the deaf working in schools and school districts in this State must be required to submit the same background checks as educators pursuant to Section 59-25-115.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-19-85 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 19 / Article 1 / Section 59-19-85
SECTION 59-19-85. School board meetings; livestream access.
Status: in_force

(A) Each public school governing body, including the governing bodies of charter schools and special schools, must make reasonable efforts to ensure the entirety of all meetings subject to the provisions of the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act are open and accessible to the public and also available by means of live video and audio electronic access, hereafter referred to as livestream access, except during a lawful executive session. (B) If a governing body cannot provide such livestream access to the public despite making reasonable efforts to restore livestream access during the meeting, it must make a clear audio and video recording of the meeting in its entirety available on its website as soon as practicable and in no more than seven days after the meeting. (C) The State Board of Education shall adopt, and revise as necessary, a model livestream meeting policy suitable for governing bodies of public schools, including charter and special schools, to comply with provisions in this section. The policy must include, at a minimum: (1) resources, recommendations, and best practices facilitating requirements for all portions of livestreamed meetings to be visible and audible in real time and subsequently posted on applicable websites no more than two business days of the meeting; (2) suggested approaches for developing and implementing ability and expanding or improving existing livestream capacity; (3) publicizing availability of livestreamed meetings; (4) allowances for executive sessions; (5) penalties for policy violations or noncompliance not to exceed one percent of state funds to the district, charter school, or special school, with escalating tiers based on frequency, duration, and severity; and (6) the process for allowing a governing body with evidence of limited or no broadband access to request approval from the State Board of Education for up to an additional twelve months to comply with provisions in this section. (D)(1) Each public school governing body, including the governing bodies of charter schools and special schools, shall adopt a local policy applicable to its meetings within three months after adoption of the model policy by the State Board of Education. A local policy must include, at a minimum, the State Board of Education model policy. (2) If the State Board of Education adopts a revision to the model policy, then the public school governing body shall adopt and incorporate the revision into its local policy within three months after the adoption of the revision by the State Board of Education. (3) A public school governing body only may adopt or revise its local policy at a regularly scheduled meeting, which must be successfully livestreamed. (4) A public school governing body may not adopt or follow a livestream policy that prevents or impedes in-person participation by the public. (5) Within thirty days after adoption of a local policy or revision to the policy, a public school governing body shall submit a copy of the policy or revision to the State Superintendent of Education for State Board of Education approval. (E) Funding by the State will be provided to those school districts without streaming capabilities as of the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year. Editor's Note 2025 Act No. 28, SECTION 2, provides as follows: "The provisions of this act must be implemented by January 1, 2026."
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-155-155 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 155 / Section 59-155-155
SECTION 59-155-155. Universal reading screeners.
Status: in_force

(A) Beginning with the 2025-2026 School Year, the board shall approve no more than five reliable and valid universal reading screeners for selection and use by districts for kindergarten through fifth grade and shall use the same process as required by Section 59-18-310 to ensure the validity and reliability of the instruments and to periodically reevaluate approved instruments. All districts shall use one of the approved universal reading screeners. (B) Each approved universal reading screener must: (1) provide screening and diagnostic capabilities for monitoring student progress in reading; (2) measure, at minimum, foundational literacy skills; (3) identify students who have a reading deficiency, including identifying students with characteristics of dyslexia; and (4) meet the criteria of a nationally normed formative assessment. (C) In determining which instrument to approve, the board shall consider the following factors: (1) the time required to conduct the assessments with the intention of minimizing the impact on instructional time; (2) the level of integration of assessment results with instructional supports offered to teachers and students; (3) the timeliness in reporting assessment results to teachers, administrators, and parents; and (4) the recommendation of the department. (D) In order to determine student progression in reading, a district shall administer a universal reading screener three times per school year with the first administration occurring within the first forty-five days of school, the second administration occurring at the midpoint of the school year, and the third administration occurring by the end of the school year. Within fifteen days of each administration, the district shall notify the parent or guardian regarding the performance of their student and whether the student may be considered for retention. For each student demonstrating literacy deficiencies and not meeting grade-level proficiencies based on the data received from the administration of the universal reading screeners, the district shall create an individualized reading plan and include a copy in the notification to the parent or guardian. (E) The department shall: (1) provide technical assistance and support to districts and classroom teachers in administering universal reading screeners and in understanding the results so teachers are able to provide appropriate, scientifically based interventions; (2) require districts and approved universal reading screeners to annually submit data as requested by the department for purposes of determining whether the screening instruments are accurately identifying students in need; (3) reimburse districts for the cost of the universal reading screener upon receipt of the data as requested by the department as funding allows; (4) annually report, on a grade-level basis, data received from districts and approved universal reading screeners; and (5) implement an online reporting system to monitor the effectiveness of universal reading screeners which must: (a) track, screen, and monitor the reading progress of students in kindergarten through third grade toward reading proficiency; (b) create a consistent statewide reporting mechanism to identify students with a reading deficiency to include students with characteristics of dyslexia; and (c) be used to receive the annual reporting requirements pursuant to Section 59-33-540. (F) Administration of a universal reading screener may be replaced with an alternative assessment and progress monitoring tool for students who qualify for an alternative assessment based on a cognitive disability in kindergarten through third grade.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-46-40 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 46 / Section 59-46-40
SECTION 59-46-40. South Carolina Council on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children; creation; membership; terms; expense reimbursement; submission of executive summary to Governor and General Assembly.
Status: in_force

In accordance with the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, there is created the South Carolina Council on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, referred to in this section as "council". (A) The council consists of the following eleven members: (1) the Governor or his designee; (2) one member appointed by the Governor to represent military installations in the State; (3) two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House; (4) two members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate; (5) two members appointed by the State Superintendent of Education, to include a superintendent of a school district with a high concentration of military families and a member of a military family with experience in the educational challenges that military children face; (6) the State Board of Education chair and chair-elect; and (7) the State Superintendent of Education or his designee, who shall serve as chair. (B) Appointments must be made no later than September 1, 2010, at which time the chair shall call the first meeting. Elected members serve terms coterminous with their terms of office. Citizen members serve at the pleasure of the individual making the appointment. All members may be reappointed. Appointments to fill vacancies, other than by expiration of a term, must be made for the unexpired terms. Vacancies must be filled in the same manner as the original appointments. (C) The council shall meet on the call of the chairman and, at a minimum, shall meet annually. A majority of members constitutes a quorum. The council may consider any matters related to the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children or the general activities and business of the organization and has the authority to represent the State in all actions of the compact. (D) The State Superintendent of Education, in coordination with the council, shall appoint or designate a military family education liaison as provided by Article VIII of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. (E) The council members serve without compensation. All members must be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. The costs of expenses of the legislative members incurred in the performance of their duties must be paid from appropriations to the representative body. The costs of expenses of nonlegislative citizen members incurred in the performance of their duties must be paid from funds as provided for this purpose in the annual appropriations act. (F) The chairman of the council shall submit electronically to the Governor and the General Assembly an executive summary of the interim activity and work of the council no later than the first day of regular session of the General Assembly following the first full year of the council's creation. Thereafter an executive summary must be electronically submitted biennially to the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Clerk of the Senate and must be posted on the General Assembly's website. Editor's Note 2010 Act 246, SECTION 5, provides as follows: "This act takes effect July 1, 2010, contingent upon available funding and agreement by the Interstate Commission to SECTION 3 of this act." Effect of Amendment 2019 Act No. 1, SECTION 68, in (A)(4), substituted "President of the Senate" for "President Pro Tempore of the Senate".
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-156-130 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 156 / Section 59-156-130
SECTION 59-156-130. Eligibility for enrollment in program.
Status: in_force

(A) Each child residing in the program's district, who has attained the age of four years on or before September first of the school year and meets the at-risk criteria, is eligible for enrollment in the South Carolina Child Early Reading Development and Education Program for one year. (B)(1) The parent of each eligible child may enroll the child in one of the following programs: (a) a school-year four-year-old kindergarten program delivered by an approved public provider; or (b) a school-year four-year-old kindergarten program delivered by an approved private provider. (2) The parent enrolling a child must complete and submit an application to the approved provider of choice. The application must be submitted on forms and must be accompanied by a copy of the child's birth certificate, immunization documentation, and documentation of the student's eligibility as evidenced by family income documentation showing an annual family income of one hundred eighty-five percent or less of the federal poverty guidelines as promulgated annually by the United States Department of Health and Human Services or a statement of Medicaid eligibility. (3) In submitting an application for enrollment, the parent agrees to comply with provider attendance policies during the school year. The attendance policy must state that the program consists of six and one-half hours of instructional time daily and operates for a period of not less than one hundred eighty days a year. Pursuant to program guidelines, noncompliance with attendance policies may result in removal from the program. (C)(1) No parent is required to pay tuition or fees solely for the purpose of enrolling in or attending the program established under this chapter. Nothing in this chapter prohibits charging fees for childcare that may be provided outside the times of the instructional day provided in these programs. (2) If by October first of the school year at least seventy-five percent of the total number of children eligible for the Child Early Reading Development and Education Program in a district or county are projected to be enrolled in that program, Head Start, or ABC Child Care Program as determined by the Department of Education and the Office of First Steps, Child Early Reading Development and Education Program providers may then enroll pay-lunch children who score at or below the twenty-fifth national percentile on two of the three DIAL-3 subscales and may receive reimbursement for these children if funds are available.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-19-275 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 19 / Article 1 / Section 59-19-275
SECTION 59-19-275. Use of armed personnel in public school districts.
Status: in_force

Each public school district may use the services of personnel who are armed or delegated arrest authority to work on the premises of the district to promote safety and security on the premises, provided the district shall obtain proprietary security business licensure as provided in Section 40-18-60 and Section 40-18-80 and otherwise comply with the applicable requirements of those sections. The provisions of this section do not affect any requirement that a school district use the services of a school resource officer as provided by law. A school district, by obtaining proprietary security business licensure, may enhance school security and safety but shall not supplant the use of a school resource officer in a school, and security personnel hired under the authorization of this section shall not be used in the advisor and teacher roles authorized for school resource officers as provided in Section 5-7-12.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-115-170 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 115 / Section 59-115-170
SECTION 59-115-170. Exemption of bonds from taxation.
Status: in_force

The principal of and interest on bonds issued pursuant to this chapter shall have the tax exempt status prescribed by Section 12-1-60.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-63-55 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 63 / Article 1 / Section 59-63-55
SECTION 59-63-55. Report required of certain injuries.
Status: in_force

A report of any head or spinal injury or broken limb suffered by a student enrolled in the public schools of this State shall be filed by the coach with the principal of the school. The report shall be made a part of the student's school record.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-109-20 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 109 / Section 59-109-20
SECTION 59-109-20. Legislative declaration of policy and purpose.
Status: in_force

It is hereby declared that for the benefit of the people of the State, the increase of their commerce, welfare and prosperity and the improvement of their health and living conditions it is essential that this and future generations of youth be given the fullest opportunity to learn and to develop their intellectual and mental capacities; that it is essential that institutions for higher education within the State be provided with appropriate additional means to assist such youth in achieving the required levels of learning and development of their intellectual and mental capacities; and that it is the purpose of this chapter to provide a measure of assistance and an alternative method to enable institutions for higher education in the State to provide the facilities and structures which are sorely needed to accomplish the purposes of this chapter, all to the public benefit and good, to the extent and manner provided herein.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-149-150 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 149 / Section 59-149-150
SECTION 59-149-150. Appropriation from general fund.
Status: in_force

There is automatically appropriated from the general fund of the State whatever amount is necessary to provide to all eligible recipients the LIFE Scholarships authorized by this chapter.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-8-150 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 8 / Section 59-8-150
SECTION 59-8-150. Requirements for education service providers, department, and Education Oversight Committee.
Status: in_force

(A) To ensure equitable treatment and personal safety of all scholarship students, all education service providers shall: (1) comply with all applicable health and safety laws or codes; (2) hold a valid occupancy permit if required by the municipality in which the education service provider is located; (3) not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national origin. This item shall not be interpreted to preclude any independent or religious educational provider from exercising an exemption allowed under federal law; (4) conduct and maintain records of completed criminal background checks on employees. An education service provider that is not an accredited or licensed school must submit documentation of completed background checks to the department as part of their initial application. All education service providers must exclude from employment anyone who: (a) is not permitted by state law to work in a school; (b) reasonably might pose a threat to the safety of students; or (c) is listed on federal, state, or other central child abuse registries. (B) To ensure that funds are spent appropriately, all education service providers shall: (1) provide parents with an invoice, for services purchased, or a receipt for goods purchased for all qualifying expenses; and (2) demonstrate their financial viability by filing a surety bond with the department prior to the start of the school year if they are to receive fifty thousand dollars or more during the school year. After their first school year of participation the surety bond is required of education service providers who exceed fifty thousand dollars in qualifying expenses received in the previous school year. (C) In order to allow parents and the public to measure the achievements of the program, academic progress must be documented annually for each scholarship student. Students with an Individualized Education Plan that cannot be accommodated with standardized testing are excluded from the requirements of item (1). Education service providers that provide academic instruction must monitor the progress of students with significant cognitive disabilities through alternative assessments including portfolios. (1) Education service providers that provide full-time academic instruction shall: (a) ensure that each scholarship student in grades three through eight takes the annual state summative assessment or alternative summative assessment required of students in public schools in this State; (b) in lieu of the assessments required by subitem (a) ensure that each scholarship recipient in grades three through eight takes a nationally norm-referenced summative assessment annually or a formative assessment at the beginning of the school year, at the end of the first semester, and at the end of the school year. The assessment must be approved by the department, aligned with state standards, and include a linking study; (c) ensure that each scholarship student in grades nine through twelve takes a department-approved, nationally norm-referenced assessment, formative assessment, or assessment that demonstrates the student's college or career readiness. Students with disabilities for whom standardized testing is not appropriate are exempt from this requirement; (d) collect high school graduation information of scholarship students for reporting to the department as required in this section; and (e) ensure that the parent or guardian of a scholarship student taking the assessments above receives a written report of the student's performance on each assessment. The report must include the student's score on the assessment and an indication of how the student's assessment performance compares to other South Carolina students. (2) The department shall ensure that the education service provider has access to and is trained in administering the state assessments required in item (1)(a) and (b). The department shall assume any costs associated with training, administering, or taking assessments with no charges to the provider or students. (3) For the purpose of evaluating program effectiveness, education service providers that provide full-time academic instruction shall ensure that results in item (1) are: (a) provided to the parent of a scholarship student and must be provided to the department on an annual basis, beginning with the first year of program implementation; and (b) disaggregated by grade level, gender, family income level, race, and English-learner status. (4) The department, or the appropriate organization chosen by the department, if any, must be informed of the scholarship student's graduation from high school. (D) The department shall: (1) comply with all student privacy laws; (2) collect all test results; and (3) annually provide individual student assessment results and information to the Education Oversight Committee. The transmission of the information must be made in a manner that safeguards the data to ensure student privacy. (E) The Education Oversight Committee shall: (1) comply with all student privacy laws; (2) report on and publish associated learning gains and graduation rates to the public by means of a state website with data aggregated by grade level, gender, family income level, number of years participating in the program, and race and a report for any participating school if at least fifty-one percent of the total enrolled students in the private school participated in the program in the prior school year or if there are at least thirty participating students who have scores for tests administered. If the Education Oversight Committee determines that the thirty participating-student cell size may be reduced without disclosing the personally identifiable information of a participating student, the Education Oversight Committee may reduce the participating-student cell size, but the cell size may not be reduced to fewer than ten participating students; (3) evaluate and report the academic performance of scholarship students compared to similar public school populations; and (4) collaborate with the department to develop and administer an annual parental satisfaction survey for all parents of scholarship students on issues relevant to the program, to include effectiveness and length of the program participation. Results of this survey must be provided to the General Assembly by December thirty-first of each year. (F) An education service provider, not a public school, is not an agent of the state or federal government, therefore: (1) the department or any other state agency may not regulate the educational program beyond what is set forth in this chapter of an approved education provider that accepts funds from an account; (2) the creation of the program does not expand the regulatory authority of the State, its officers, or a school district to impose regulation of education service providers beyond those necessary to enforce the requirements of the program; (3) the freedom of education service providers to provide for the educational needs of scholarship students without governmental control must not be abridged; (4) an education service provider that accepts payment from an ESTF account pursuant to this chapter is not an agent of the state or federal government; and (5) education service providers shall not be required to alter their creeds, practices, admissions policy, or curriculum in order to accept payments from an ESTF account. (G) A person paid by, contracted with, employed by, or having a financial interest in an education service provider shall not be allowed to serve on the board of an organization contracting for services with the department as defined in Section 59-8-115(J), serve on the board of a vendor or private management firm contracted to manage accounts as defined in Section 59-8-125(C), on the board of any other provider of contracted-for services under Section 59-8-110(12) or under Section 59-8-120(H), or on the ESTF Review Panel. Any education service provider violating this subsection shall be barred from participating in the program for two years and shall return any funds received under the program to the ESTF. (H) A person serving as a board member or director of an education service provider shall have a fiduciary duty to the provider and shall avoid any conflicts of interest with the provider. (I) No member of the General Assembly or their immediate family, as defined by Section 8-13-100(18), may have a financial interest in an education service provider. This does not prevent a member or their immediate family from qualifying under the provisions of this chapter to participate in the ESTF program. (J) A person shall not serve in a position of leadership with an education service provider who has been convicted of a financial crime. Editor's Note 2023 Act No. 8, SECTION 3, provides as follows: "SECTION 3. This act takes effect thirty days after approval by the Governor, provided that upon approval of this act by the Governor, the Department of Education shall begin undertaking and executing responsibilities incidental to the implementation of this act so that the provisions of this act may be fully implemented thirty days after approval by the Governor." 2025 Act No. 11, SECTION 16, provides as follows: "SECTION 16. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor. Current eligible participants may continue receiving benefits under the Education Scholarship Trust Fund, until the end of the 2024-2025 School Year." Effect of Amendment 2025 Act No. 11, SECTION 10, rewrote (A)(4); in (B)(1), substituted "an invoice, for services purchased, or a receipt for goods purchased" for "a receipt"; in (B)(2), inserted the second sentence; rewrote (C)(1); in (F), deleted "autonomous and" preceding "not an agent"; in (F)(1), inserted "beyond what is set forth in this chapter"; in (F)(4) and (F)(5), deleted "by a parent" preceding "from an ESTF account"; and made nonsubstantive changes.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-63-75 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 63 / Article 1 / Section 59-63-75
SECTION 59-63-75. Concussion protocol for student athletes.
Status: in_force

(A) The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, in consultation with the State Department of Education, shall post on its website nationally recognized guidelines and procedures regarding the identification and management of suspected concussions in student athletes. The Department of Health and Environmental Control also shall post on its website model policies that incorporate best practices guidelines for the identification, management, and return to play decisions for concussions reflective of current scientific and medical literature developed by resources from or members of sports medicine community organizations including, but not limited to, the Brain Injury Association of South Carolina, the South Carolina Medical Association, the South Carolina Athletic Trainer's Association, the National Federation of High Schools, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Guidelines developed pursuant to this section apply to South Carolina High School League-sanctioned events. (B) A local school district shall develop guidelines and procedures based on the model guidelines and procedures referenced in subsection (A). (C) Each year prior to participation in athletics, each school district shall provide to all coaches, volunteers, student athletes, and their parents or legal guardian, an information sheet on concussions which informs of the nature and risk of concussion and brain injury, including the risks associated with continuing to play after a concussion or brain injury. The parent or legal guardian's receipt of the information sheet must be documented in writing or by electronic means before the student athlete is permitted to participate in an athletic competition or practice. (D)(1) If a coach, athletic trainer, official, or physician suspects that a student athlete, under the control of the coach, athletic trainer, official, or physician, has sustained a concussion or brain injury in a practice or in an athletic competition, the student athlete shall be removed from practice or competition at that time. (2) A student athlete who has been removed from play may return to play if, as a result of evaluating the student athlete on site, the athletic trainer, physician, physician assistant pursuant to scope of practice guidelines, or nurse practitioner pursuant to a written protocol determines in his best professional judgment that the student athlete does not have any signs or symptoms of a concussion or brain injury. (3) A student athlete who has been removed from play and evaluated and who is suspected of having a concussion or brain injury may not return to play until the student athlete has received written medical clearance by a physician. (4) In addition to posting information regarding the recognition and management of concussions in student athletes, the Department of Health and Environmental Control, in consultation with health care provider organizations, shall post on its website continuing education opportunities in concussion evaluation and management available to providers making such medical determinations. Such information must be posted by the department upon receipt from a participating health care organization. (5) The athletic trainer, physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner who evaluates the student athlete during practice or an athletic competition and authorizes the student athlete to return to play is not liable for civil damages resulting from an act or omission in rendering this decision, other than acts or omissions constituting gross negligence or wilful, wanton misconduct. This immunity applies to an athletic trainer, physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner serving as a volunteer. (E) For purposes of this section: (1) "Physician" is defined in the same manner as provided in Section 40-47-20. (2) "Student athlete" includes cheerleaders. Code Commissioner's Note At the direction of the Code Commissioner, an incorrect reference to a subsection in Section 40-47-20 was removed.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-1-190 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 1 / Article 3 / Section 59-1-190
SECTION 59-1-190. "State Department" defined.
Status: in_force

"State Department" means State Department of Education.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-10-340 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 10 / Article 3 / Section 59-10-340
SECTION 59-10-340. Snacks in vending machines.
Status: in_force

Each district's Coordinated School Health Advisory Council established pursuant to Section 59-10-330 shall determine which snacks may be sold in vending machines in elementary schools.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-118-10 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 118 / Section 59-118-10
SECTION 59-118-10. Short title.
Status: in_force

This chapter is known and may be cited as the South Carolina Academic Endowment Incentive Act.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-146-20 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 146 / Section 59-146-20
SECTION 59-146-20. Purpose of chapter to assist school districts to provide educational facilities.
Status: in_force

It is declared that, for the benefit of the people of the State, the increase of their commerce, welfare, and prosperity, and the improvement of their health and living conditions, it is essential that this and future generations of youth be given the full opportunity to learn and to develop their intellectual and mental capacities; that it is essential that school districts of this State be provided with adequate educational facilities and appropriate additional means to assist the youth in achieving the required levels of learning and development of their intellectual and mental capacities; and that it is the purpose of this chapter to provide a measure of assistance to enable school districts in this State to provide the facilities and structures which are needed to accomplish the purposes of this chapter, all to the public benefit and good, to the extent and manner provided in this chapter.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-39-80 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 39 / Article 1 / Section 59-39-80
SECTION 59-39-80. Privileges and regulation of high school district established by adjoining districts.
Status: in_force

All such districts shall have the privileges and benefits provided by this article and shall be subject to the regulations of the State Board of Education as therein provided.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-150-60 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 150 / Section 59-150-60
SECTION 59-150-60. Powers of the commission.
Status: repealed

(A) The commission has all the powers necessary or convenient to carry out and effectuate the purposes and provisions of this chapter which are not in conflict with the Constitution and laws of this State and which generally are exercised by commissions engaged in entrepreneurial pursuits on behalf of the State including, but not limited to, the powers to: (1) sue and be sued in contract and in tort and to complain and defend in all courts; (2) adopt and alter a corporate seal and symbol; (3) promulgate regulations pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act and adopt policies and procedures for the regulation of its affairs and the conduct of its business; to elect and prescribe the duties of officers and employees of the commission; and to perform other matters as the commission may determine; (4) procure or to provide self-insurance; (5) hold copyrights, trademarks, and service marks and enforce its rights with respect to them; (6) organize, initiate, supervise, and administer the operation of the lottery as provided by this chapter and regulations promulgated relating to the categories of lottery games and the conduct of the games pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act and to this chapter; (7) enter into written agreements with one or more other states or sovereigns for the operation, participation in marketing, and promotion of a joint lottery or joint lottery games, subject to the Administrative Procedures Act and this chapter; but such marketing and promotion is subject to the restrictions on advertising and promotion provided in item (18) of this section; (8) conduct necessary or appropriate market research, which may include an analysis of the demographic characteristics of the players of the lottery game and an analysis of advertising, promotion, public relations, incentives, and other aspects of communication; (9) acquire or lease real property and make improvements on it and acquire by lease or by purchase personal property including, but not limited to, computers; mechanical, electronic, and on-line equipment and terminals; and intangible property including, but not limited to, computer programs, systems, and software. To achieve cost savings and efficiency, the commission shall use the telecommunications network service of the Department of Administration's Office of Information Resources pursuant to Sections 1-11-430 and 11-35-1580 provided that the service is secure; (10) administer oaths, take depositions, issue subpoenas, and compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, papers, documents, and other evidence relative to any investigation or proceeding conducted by the commission; (11) appoint, select, or hire officers, agents, and employees, including professional and administrative staff, personnel, and hearing officers to conduct hearings required by this chapter, and to fix their compensation and pay their expenses. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the commission has exclusive authority to contract for legal services. All employees of the commission are employees-at-will and are eligible for participation in the South Carolina Retirement System and may elect optional retirement program coverage in the same manner as provided in Section 9-20-10(2)(a), the State Health Insurance Group plans, and are encompassed by the South Carolina Tort Claims Act; (12) make pension payments to the South Carolina Retirement System or other system approved by the State Retirement System and pay contributions to the Office of Insurance Services for dental and health plans on behalf of personnel or employees employed by the commission who qualify in the same manner as other state employees in the executive branch of government; (13) select and contract with lottery vendors and lottery retailers; (14) enter into contracts or agreements with state or other law enforcement agencies for the performance of law enforcement, background investigations, and security checks; (15) enter into contracts on such terms and conditions as the commission may determine, except that the commission must not enter into an advertising or promotional contract pursuant to item (18) if the total contract amount includes a commission exceeding three percent of the contract amount; and except that the commission shall not enter into contracts to incur debt in its own name or enter into financing agreements with the State, agencies, or instrumentalities of the State, or with a commercial bank or credit provider; however, necessary start-up monies must be borrowed from the Insurance Reserve Fund of the State Fiscal Accountability Authority, subject to the loan repayment terms of the State Fiscal Accountability Authority, for effectuating its purpose, including payment of the initial expenses of initiation, administration, and operation of the commission and the lottery, if and only if sufficient start-up monies are not appropriated from the general fund; (16) enter into contracts of any type on the terms and conditions the commission determines, except that it must not enter into a contract with an entity for the purpose of having that entity assume or otherwise undertake the organization and conduct of the lottery; (17) establish and maintain banking relationships including, but not limited to, establishment of checking and savings accounts and lines of credit; (18) advertise and promote the lottery and lottery games in a dignified manner befitting the State, but only in compliance with the same state and federal standards of truth in advertising which govern private advertisers engaged in interstate commerce and including the restrictions described in this item. The amount spent on advertising must not exceed 7.5 million dollars during the initial year of operation of the lottery. During the second and subsequent years of operation of the lottery, the amount spent on advertising must not exceed one percent of the previous year's gross sales. The board must establish an advertising policy to ensure that advertising content and practices do not target with the intent to exploit specific ethnic groups or economic classes of people, and that the content of the advertising is accurate and not misleading. Lottery advertising must not contain the name or picture of an elected official or state seal or its likeness. The board must review, at least quarterly, all past lottery advertising and proposed concepts for major media campaigns to ensure that the advertising did not and does not target with the intent to exploit specific ethnic groups or economic classes of people, and that the content is accurate and not misleading. The commission must promote fair and responsible play, including disclosure of the odds of winning, and must ensure that any advertising used does not exhort the public to bet by misrepresenting, directly or indirectly, a person's chance of winning a prize. The commission may use interviews, pictures, or statements from people who have won lottery prizes to show that prizes are won and awarded. If the board finds that advertising conflicts with these policies, the board must cause the cessation of that advertising. In addition, wherever lottery game tickets are sold, the commission must provide information regarding resources for persons with gambling problems. Wherever lottery game tickets are sold, a lottery retailer must post a conspicuous sign in a prominent location, inside the retailer's premises and adjacent to the point of sale, clearly warning of the dangers and risks of gambling and the odds of winning and the odds of losing; (19) act as a lottery retailer, conduct promotions which involve the dispensing of lottery game tickets or shares, and establish and operate a sales facility to sell lottery game tickets or shares and related merchandise, except that the commission shall not establish, operate, or authorize a lottery sales facility at any state Welcome Center or state rest area; and (20) promulgate regulations pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act and this chapter and adopt and amend policies and procedures necessary to carry out and implement its powers and duties, organize and operate the commission, regulate the conduct of lottery games as defined in Section 59-150-20(7), and other matters necessary or desirable for the efficient and effective operation of the lottery for the convenience of the public. (B) The powers enumerated in subsection (A) are cumulative of and in addition to those powers enumerated elsewhere in this chapter, and do not limit or restrict other powers of the commission. (C) The commission is prohibited from distributing monies other than as prescribed by this chapter including, but not limited to, the prohibition of contributing to or making independent expenditures relative to the campaign of a candidate for the General Assembly or a statewide constitutional office; to a political party, as defined in Section 8-13-1300(26); or to a committee, as defined in Section 8-13-1300(6). (D) The commission is not authorized to use any machine specifically prohibited by Sections 12-21-2710, 16-19-40, and 16-19-50. (E) The commission is subject to the limitations upon, and exemptions from, liability and damages provided in the South Carolina Tort Claims Act. (F) The commission shall not issue, sell, or authorize the sale of lottery tickets or shares at a location licensed to provide deferred presentment services pursuant to Chapter 39 of Title 34. (G) The commission shall not enter into a contract for the purpose of influencing a political decision in connection with the operation of the lottery, and the commission must not employ, contract with, or otherwise authorize a lobbyist, as defined in Section 2-17-10(13), to engage in lobbying, as defined in Section 2-17-10(12), on behalf of the commission. (H) The commission must not sell or give away tickets for promotional purposes. Editor's Note Section 11-35-1580, referenced in the text, was repealed by 2019 Act No. 41, SECTION 77.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-43-20 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 43 / Section 59-43-20
SECTION 59-43-20. Powers and duties of State Board of Education.
Status: in_force

(A) The State Board of Education may: (1) make and enforce regulations for the organization, conduct, and supervision of adult basic and adult secondary (GED, alternate testing, and high school diploma) education; (2) determine the qualifications of teachers and issue teaching certificates for teaching adult basic and adult secondary (GED, alternate testing, and high school diploma) education classes; (3) determine the tuition which may be required of persons attending adult basic and adult secondary (GED, alternate testing, and high school diploma) education classes; (4) determine the subjects which may be taught in adult basic and adult secondary (GED, alternate testing, and high school diploma) education classes. (B) The State Board of Education is also responsible for the administration, coordination, and management of adult basic and adult secondary (GED, alternate testing, and high school diploma) education for the purpose of facilitating and coordinating adult basic and adult secondary (GED, alternate testing, and high school diploma) education programs for South Carolina adults whose level of educational attainment is below high school, as prescribed by state and federal laws and regulations. The State Board of Education and the local school districts are responsible for effective coordination and utilization of literacy councils, the technical education system, the educational television network, nonprofit groups, business and industry representatives, and other state and local agencies and private persons interested in adult basic and adult secondary (GED, alternate testing, and high school diploma) education programs to deliver programs to the state's undereducated adult population. (C) Any funds distributed by the State Board of Education for local literacy councils or programs must be made available to those councils or programs either in-kind or in money. (D) The requirements of this section apply to alternate high school equivalency testing required in Section 59-43-25. Effect of Amendment 2014 Act No. 272, SECTION 3, inserted "alternative testing" throughout the section, and added subsection (D), relating to Section 59-43-25.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-156-150 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 156 / Section 59-156-150
SECTION 59-156-150. Duties of Department of Education, Read to Succeed Office, and Office of First Steps to School Readiness.
Status: in_force

The Department of Education, the Read to Succeed Office, and the Office of First Steps to School Readiness shall: (1) develop the provider application form; (2) develop the child enrollment application form; (3) develop a list of approved research-based preschool curricula for use in the program based upon the South Carolina Content Standards, and provide training and technical assistance to support its effective use in approved classrooms serving children; (4) develop a list of approved prekindergarten readiness assessments to be used in conjunction with the program, and provide assessments and technical assistance to support assessment administration in approved classrooms serving children; (5) establish criteria for awarding new classroom equipping grants; (6) establish criteria for the parenting education program providers must offer; (7) establish a list of early childhood related fields that may be used in meeting the lead teacher qualifications; (8) develop a list of data-collection needs to be used in implementation and evaluation of the program; (9) identify teacher preparation program options and assist lead teachers in meeting teacher program requirements; (10) establish criteria for granting student retention waivers; and (11) establish criteria for granting classroom-size requirements waivers.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-109-40 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 109 / Section 59-109-40
SECTION 59-109-40. Educational Facilities Authority for Private Nonprofit Institutions of Higher Learning.
Status: in_force

There is hereby created a body politic and corporate to be known as the "Educational Facilities Authority for Private Nonprofit Institutions of Higher Learning," hereinafter in this chapter called the authority. The authority is constituted a public instrumentality and the exercise by the authority of the powers conferred by this chapter must be deemed and held to be the performance of an essential public function. The authority shall consist of the members from time to time of the State Fiscal Accountability Authority, ex officio; and all the functions and powers of the authority are hereby granted to the State Fiscal Accountability Authority, as an incident of its functions in connection with the public finances of the State. Effect of Amendment 2014 Act No. 121, SECTION 20.N, twice substituted "Fiscal Accountability Authority" for "Budget and Control Board", and made other nonsubstantive changes.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-31-570 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 31 / Article 5 / Section 59-31-570
SECTION 59-31-570. Change in terms of contracts.
Status: in_force

The State Board of Education may, in its discretion, postpone, alter, amend or modify the terms of State adoption of textbook contracts.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-125-540 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 125 / Article 5 / Section 59-125-540
SECTION 59-125-540. Authorization to borrow funds and issue bonds; amount limitations.
Status: in_force

Upon receiving the approval of the State Fiscal Accountability Authority or Department of Administration, as appropriate, and upon review by the Joint Bond Review Committee, the trustees may from time to time borrow such sums as necessary to accomplish the purpose of this article and to evidence such borrowings by bonds issued pursuant to this article in such aggregate principal amount as they determine, except that other provisions of this article to the contrary notwithstanding, there must not be outstanding at any time bonds issued pursuant to this article in excess of five million dollars.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-26-85 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 26 / Section 59-26-85
SECTION 59-26-85. NBPTS recertification; development of application fee loan program.
Status: in_force

(A)(1) Teachers who are certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) before July 1, 2010, shall enter a recertification cycle for their South Carolina certificate consistent with the recertification cycle for National Board certification and NBPTS certified teachers moving to this State are exempted from initial certification requirements and are eligible for continuing contract status and their recertification cycle will be consistent with National Board certification. Teachers receiving national certification from the NBPTS before July 1, 2010, shall receive an increase in pay for the initial ten-year National Board certification and no more than one ten-year renewal of National Board certification. The pay increase shall be determined annually in the appropriations act. The established amount shall be added to the annual pay of the nationally certified teacher. (2) Teachers who apply on or after July 1, 2010, for certification by the NBPTS shall enter a recertification cycle for their South Carolina certificate and consistent with the initial ten-year cycle for National Board certification, and teachers moving to this State who apply for National Board certification on or after July 1, 2010, and subsequently achieve National Board certification are exempted from initial certification requirements and are eligible for continuing contract status and their recertification cycle will be consistent with the initial ten-year cycle. Teachers receiving national certification from the NBPTS on or after July 1, 2010, only shall receive an increase in pay for the initial ten years of the certification. The pay increase shall be determined annually in the appropriations act. The established amount shall be added to the annual pay of the nationally certified teacher. (B) The Center for Teacher Recruitment shall develop guidelines and administer the programs whereby teachers applying to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards for certification before July 1, 2010, may receive a loan equal to the amount of the application fee. One-half of the loan principal amount and interest shall be forgiven when the required portfolio is submitted to the National Board. Teachers attaining certification within three years of receiving the loan will have the full loan principal amount and interest forgiven. This subsection does not apply to any application submitted on or after July 1, 2010. Effect of Amendment The 2010 amendment added the item designator (1) to subsection (A), and in subsection (A) added the date restriction to the first and third sentences, and substituted "the initial ten-year National Board certification and no more than one ten-year renewal of National Board certification" for "the life of the certification"; added subsection (A)(2) regarding recertification cycle for teachers who apply on or after July 1, 2010; and in subsection (B), added the date restriction in the first sentence, and added the last sentence regarding applications submitted after July 1, 2010.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-119-770 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 119 / Article 7 / Section 59-119-770
SECTION 59-119-770. Bond specifications; issuing resolutions.
Status: in_force

In order to avail themselves of the authorizations set forth in this article, the trustees shall adopt resolutions providing for the issuance of bonds of Clemson, within the limitations mentioned in this article which must prescribe the tenor, terms, and conditions of the bonds. The bonds must be issued as serial or term bonds, maturing in equal or unequal amounts, at such times and on such occasions as the trustees determine. The last maturing bonds of any issue must be expressed to mature not later than fifty years from their date, and the first maturing bonds of any issue, issued pursuant to this article, falls due within five years from their date. They must bear such rates of interest, payable on such occasion, as the trustees prescribe, and the bonds must be in such denominations, payable in such medium of payment, and at such place as such resolutions prescribe. All bonds may be issued with a provision permitting their redemption on any interest payment date before their respective maturities. Bonds made subject to redemption before their stated maturities may contain a provision requiring the payment of a premium for the privilege of exercising the right of redemption, in such amount or amounts as the trustees prescribe in the resolutions authorizing their issuance. All bonds that are subject to redemption must contain a statement to that effect on the face of each bond. The resolutions authorizing their issuance must contain provisions specifying the manner of call and the notice of call that must be given.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-111-50 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 111 / Article 1 / Section 59-111-50
SECTION 59-111-50. Persons defaulting on certain student loans precluded from employment by State.
Status: in_force

No person who has wilfully defaulted on a National Direct Student Loan, a National Defense Student Loan, a Guaranteed-Federally Insured Student Loan, a Nursing Student Loan, a Health Professions Student Loan or a Law Enforcement Educational Loan shall now or hereafter be employed by the State or any of its departments, agencies or subdivisions until all defaults are cured and loan payments made current; provided, however, that if such person and his lender voluntarily enter into an agreement after default under which terms the debt will be repaid and the lender confirms this agreement in writing with the state agency, department or subdivision, the loan shall not be considered in default and the default shall be considered as cured so long as the person complies with the terms of the agreement.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-141-10 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 141 / Section 59-141-10
SECTION 59-141-10. National education goals.
Status: in_force

(A) The State Department of Education shall formulate an implementation plan to accomplish the following national education goals as applicable to South Carolina, which are: (1) By the year 2000, all children in America will start school ready to learn. (2) By the year 2000, the high school graduation rate will increase to at least ninety percent. (3) By the year 2000, American students will leave grades four, eight, and twelve having demonstrated competency over challenging subject matter including English, mathematics, science, history, and geography, and every school in America will ensure that all students learn to use their minds well, so they may be prepared for responsible citizenship, further learning, and productive employment in our modern economy. The South Carolina goals also include the areas of foreign languages, health and physical education, arts and humanities, and occupational education as part of this goal. (4) By the year 2000, U.S. students will be first in the world in science and mathematics achievement. (5) By the year 2000, every adult American will be literate and will possess the knowledge and skills necessary to compete in a global economy and exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. (6) By the year 2000, every school in America will be free of drugs and violence and will offer a disciplined environment conducive of learning. The Department of Education, building upon the South Carolina Total Quality Education Framework for Change and the South Carolina Goals Panel Report shall formulate this plan, which must focus on equity, productivity, and interagency collaboration to meet the National Goals by the year 2000. The plan at a minimum shall address: (a) a review of the Education Finance Act and a Defined Maximum Program; (b) a review of the Education Improvement Act and Target 2000; (c) an alignment of the plan with the national goals; (d) an identification of sources and reallocation of funds and revenue; (e) accountability measures for state agencies, local school districts, and local communities; (f) a system which connects funding costs with school performance effectiveness; (g) a system for coordinating interagency funds to support health, social, and education services to children and families; and (h) a system for coordinating funds with technical colleges and higher education to support lifelong learning. The Education Improvement Act is to be included in this review, but all EIA funds must be used only for new reforms and innovations and not for regular ongoing operations at schools, although after this review the reforms and innovations for which these funds were dedicated may be different than originally provided. (B) In formulating this plan the Department of Education shall coordinate its efforts with the South Carolina Business-Education Partnership for Excellence in Education, to include its planning committee and outreach committee and also the accountability committee of the Business Education Subcommittee. Input must be solicited from the State Board of Education, South Carolina Education Goals Panel, EIA Education Oversight Committee, Human Services Coordinating Council, South Carolina Business Center for Education, Chamber of Commerce, South Carolina School Boards Association, South Carolina Association of School Administrators, South Carolina Parent Teacher Association, South Carolina School Improvement Councils, Palmetto Teachers Association, South Carolina Education Association, South Carolina Teacher Forum, American Association of Retired Persons, Business and Community Representatives, Regional Goals Coordinating Councils and America 2000 communities. This plan shall reflect a systemic approach that applies the principles of Total Quality Management and strategies of effectiveness which reflect state accountability, local school district accountability, and community accountability. The plan must relate to learning and school effectiveness standards developed by the State Board of Education through the State Department of Education, to restructuring efforts that relate to local school districts, and to partnerships that relate to local communities. Examples of these standards and efforts include: (1) curriculum frameworks in each subject area; (2) accreditation and accountability of schools; (3) assessment of student learning; (4) empowerment of the existing and future teaching force; (5) instructional materials and technology; (6) extensive use of the Leadership Academy; (7) seed money for restructuring initiatives; (8) staff development through the use of "lighthouse schools"; (9) understanding of educational renewal and restructuring; (10) school to work transitions; (11) motivational programs for students and parents; (12) increased collaboration between K-12 and higher education; (13) collaborative-decentralized governance; (14) case management and collocation services to emotionally and physically handicapped children and their families; (15) targeted education and health services to special needs groups; (16) educational and health counseling services with local and community input on the negative impact of teen pregnancy and the positive impact of delaying parenthood; (17) contracting between public schools and health related entities; (18) maximizing federal and other funds to ensure that children are provided health screenings; and (19) providing extended care services to working parents. (C)(1) By August 1, 1993, a draft of the format to be used in developing the plan must be presented for review and approval to the State Board of Education, the House Ways and Means Committee, the House Education and Public Works Committee, the Senate Finance Committee, and Senate Education Committee. (2) By September 1, 1994, the Department of Education shall submit for review and approval to the EIA Education Oversight Committee and the Business Education Subcommittee the proposed time lines, funding requirements, and necessary steps to implement the plan for each of the next five years from 1995 to 2000. (3) During the months of November and December, 1994, the State Department of Education and the South Carolina Business-Education Partnership Committee shall meet with and request comment from, but not limited to, the major education associations, the Congress of Parents and Teachers, the state and local Chambers of Commerce, the State Board of Education, Regional Goals Coordinating Councils, Human Service Coordinating Council, Regional EIA Councils, the Principal's Council, Council of College Presidents, South Carolina Council of Educational Collaboration, the Commission on Higher Education, South Carolina Teachers' Forum, EIA Education Oversight Committee, House Education and Public Works Committee, Senate Education Committee, House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Long Term Policy and Planning, and Senate Finance Subcommittee on Education on the proposed time lines, funding requirements and necessary specific steps to implement the plan for each of the next five years. (4) By January 1, 1995, the State Department of Education shall submit to the State Board of Education, the Governor, and the General Assembly the revised plan which establishes accountability measures at the state level, accountability measures at local district level and supporting interagency partnerships at the community level, funding requirements, and appropriate time lines.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-152-150 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 152 / Section 59-152-150
SECTION 59-152-150. Development and adoption of standard fiscal accountability system; private and nonstate funds; disbursements; applicable offenses.
Status: repealed

(A) The Office of South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness shall develop and require local partnerships to adopt and implement a standard fiscal accountability system including, but not limited to, a uniform, standardized system of accounting, internal controls, payroll, fidelity bonding, chart of accounts, and contract management and monitoring. The Office of First Steps, in consultation with the Office of State Procurement, must adopt and develop procurement policies and procedures. Local partnerships must adopt these policies and procedures for the purchase of goods and services. The Office of First Steps may contract with outside firms to develop and ensure implementation of this standard fiscal accountability system, and the Office of First Steps may inspect fiscal and program records of partnerships and developing partnerships to ensure their compliance with the required system. The Office of First Steps may contract with a state entity with existing means for developing contracts and disbursing funds in order to make use of the existing infrastructure, if it is efficient and not administratively burdensome to partnerships. (B) Each local First Steps partnership shall expend funds through the South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Board of Trustees or its fiscal designees until the capacity of the local partnership to manage its fiscal and administrative responsibilities in compliance with the standard accountability system has been reviewed and certified by the South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Board of Trustees or its designee. (C) All private and nonstate funds sought by local partnerships must be used exclusively for meeting the goals and purpose of First Steps as specified in Section 59-152-20 and Section 59-152-30. Private funds received by a First Steps partnership must be deposited in a separate fund subject to review by the Office of First Steps and the State Board. (D) Disbursements may be made only on the written authorization of the individual designated by the partnership board and only for the purposes specified. A person violating this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined five thousand dollars or imprisoned for six months, or both. (E) The offenses of misuse, misappropriation, and embezzlement of public funds apply to this chapter. Editor's Note 2018 Act No. 152, SECTION 8, provides as follows: "SECTION 8. Section 20B. of Act 287 of 2014 [reauthorizing the South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Act until July 1, 2016] is repealed. Act 99 of 1999, South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Act, as amended by this act, is reauthorized until June 30, 2025." Effect of Amendment 2014 Act No. 287, SECTION 18, in subsection (A), inserted "South Carolina" following "The Office of", inserted "local" following "develop and require", and twice deleted "county" before "partnership"; in subsection (B), substituted "local First Steps partnership" for "County First Steps Partnership", and substituted "local partnership" for "County First Steps Partnership"; rewrote subsection (C); in subsection (D), deleted "county" before "partnership"; and in subsection (E), inserted a comma following "funds". 2023 Act No. 81, SECTION 3, rewrote (A).
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-40-175 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 40 / Section 59-40-175
SECTION 59-40-175. Charter School Facility Revolving Loan Program.
Status: in_force

There is created in the state treasury the Charter School Facility Revolving Loan Program. This loan program is comprised of federal funds obtained by the state for charter school facilities, other funds appropriated or transferred to the fund by the state, and privately donated funds. Funds deposited to the Charter School Facility Revolving Loan Program must remain available for the purposes of the program until appropriated or reverted by the General Assembly. The State Treasurer may approve loans from monies in the Charter School Revolving Loan Program to a charter school, upon application by the charter school. Money loaned to a charter school pursuant to this section must be used for construction, purchase, renovation, and maintenance of public charter school facilities. The State Treasurer shall establish guidelines and procedures for application, approval, allocation, and repayment regarding loans from these monies. The Office of State Treasurer may be reimbursed from the program for costs associated with the administration of these loans.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-40-180 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 40 / Section 59-40-180
SECTION 59-40-180. Regulations and guidelines.
Status: in_force

The State Board of Education shall promulgate regulations and develop guidelines necessary to implement the provisions of this chapter, including standards to determine compliance with this chapter and an application process to include a timeline for submission of applications that will allow for final decisions, including Administrative Law Court appeal, by December first of the year preceding the charter school's opening. Effect of Amendment The 2006 amendment reprinted this section with no apparent change. The 2008 amendment substituted "Administrative Law Court" for "state board". 2014 Act No. 288, SECTION 8, deleted "which the Charter School Advisory Committee shall use" following "including standards".
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-25-450 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 25 / Article 5 / Section 59-25-450
SECTION 59-25-450. Suspension of teachers; reinstatement.
Status: in_force

Whenever a superintendent has reason to believe that cause exists for the dismissal of a teacher and when he is of the opinion that the immediate suspension of the teacher is necessary to protect the well-being of the children of the district or is necessary to remove substantial and material disruptive influences in the educational process, in the best interest of the children in the district, the superintendent may suspend the teacher without notice or without a hearing. The superintendent shall notify the teacher in writing of the suspension. Such written notice shall include the cause for suspension and the fact that a hearing before the board is available to the teacher upon request provided such request is made in writing within fifteen days as prescribed by Section 59-25-470. The salary of a suspended teacher shall cease as of the date the board sustains the suspension. If sufficient grounds for suspension are not subsequently found, the teacher shall be reinstated without loss of compensation.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-104-630 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 104 / Article 7 / Section 59-104-630
SECTION 59-104-630. Individual planning process.
Status: in_force

The Commission on Higher Education shall ensure that each public institution of higher learning in this State maintains its individual planning process.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-104-220 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 104 / Article 3 / Section 59-104-220
SECTION 59-104-220. Governor's Professor of the Year Award established.
Status: in_force

The Governor's Professor of the Year Award is established as follows: (1) Each public or private institution of higher learning in this State is eligible to nominate one faculty member for this award who has demonstrated exceptional teaching performance. (2) The Governor's office in conjunction with the Commission on Higher Education shall establish a committee to choose the Professor of the Year from a senior institution and a Professor of the Year from an institution offering no degree above the associate's degree. The committee must consist of representatives of the Governor's office, the commission, and appropriate civic, business, government, and academic organizations. (3) Each award must include a citation and a payment of five thousand dollars. Up to ten finalists may be awarded five hundred dollars each by the Commission on Higher Education. The Governor's office shall host an appropriate ceremony at which the awards must be presented. (4) The commission shall request annual state appropriations for the award.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-21-90 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 21 / Article 1 / Section 59-21-90
SECTION 59-21-90. Computation of years of experience of teachers.
Status: in_force

In computing the years of experience of teachers under the schedule in Section 59-21-80 each full regular scholastic year taught by a teacher in the public schools of the State shall be counted as one year's experience.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-101-345 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 101 / Article 1 / Section 59-101-345
SECTION 59-101-345. Authority to reallocate funds between Palmetto Fellows Program and need-based grants; priority to students in custody of Department of Social Services.
Status: in_force

In instances where the equal division of the appropriated funds between need-based grants and the Palmetto Fellows Program exceeds the capacity to make awards in either program, the Commission on Higher Education has the authority to reallocate the remaining funds between the two programs. Public and independent higher education institutions must give first priority for need-based grants to children and young adults in the custody of the State Department of Social Services. Institutions and the Commission on Higher Education shall accept written verification from the Department of Social Services that the child or young adult is in the custody of the Department of Social Services, and must provide the maximum amount allowed by law for that need-based grant.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-53-465 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 53 / Article 5 / Section 59-53-465
SECTION 59-53-465. Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this subarticle: (1) "Authority" means the Trident Technical College Enterprise Campus Authority. (2) "Board" means the governing body of the authority. (3) "Commission" means the Trident Technical College Area Commission. (4) "Enterprise Campus" means the real and personal property subject to the management and control of the authority. The enterprise campus may consist of one or more tracts or parcels of real property and none of the tracts or parcels is required to be contiguous with other properties constituting the enterprise campus.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-155-110 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 155 / Section 59-155-110
SECTION 59-155-110. Reading instruction program.
Status: in_force

The South Carolina Department of Education shall implement a comprehensive, systemic approach to reading which will ensure: (1) classroom teachers use scientifically based reading instruction in prekindergarten through grade five, to include oral language, phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension; administer and interpret valid and reliable assessments; analyze data to inform reading instruction; and provide scientifically based interventions as needed so that all students develop proficiency with literacy skills and comprehension; (2) each district, in consultation with classroom teachers, periodically reassess curriculum and instructional materials for alignment with foundational literacy skills and exclusion of materials that employ the three-cueing system model of reading, visual memory as the primary basis for teaching word recognition, or the three-cueing system model of reading based on meaning, structure and syntax, and visual cues; (3) each student who cannot yet comprehend grade-level text is identified and served as early as possible and at all stages of his or her educational process; (4) each student receives targeted, effective, comprehensive support from the classroom teacher and, if needed, supplemental support from a reading interventionist so that ultimately all students can comprehend grade-level texts; (5) after each administration of a universal reading screener or formative assessment as defined in this chapter, each student and his parent or guardian are informed in writing of: (a) the student's reading proficiency needs, progress, and ability to comprehend grade-level texts; (b) specific actions the classroom teacher and other reading professionals have taken and will take to help the student comprehend texts; and (c) specific actions that the parent or guardian can take to help the student comprehend grade-level texts; (6) classroom teachers receive pre-service and in-service coursework based in the science of reading, structured literacy, and foundational literacy skills; (7) all students develop reading and writing proficiency to prepare them to graduate and to succeed in their career and post-secondary education; (8) each school district publishes annually a comprehensive scientifically based reading plan that includes intervention options available to students and funding for these services; and (9) all programs focused on early childhood literacy development promote parental involvement in children's literacy and development of foundational literacy skills. Effect of Amendment 2024 Act No. 114, SECTION 1, rewrote the section.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-49-112 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 49 / Section 59-49-112
SECTION 59-49-112. Courses of study.
Status: in_force

The board shall establish the standard course of study for the school. This course of study must include instruction in the areas that constitute the usual high school curriculum and provide in-depth instruction in agriculture, natural resources, and biotechnology.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-111-370 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 111 / Article 5 / Section 59-111-370
SECTION 59-111-370. Penalties for misrepresenting eligibility.
Status: in_force

Any applicant who wilfully misrepresents his eligibility for the tuition benefits provided for under this article, or any person who knowingly aids or abets such applicant in misrepresenting his eligibility for such benefits, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-119-920 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 119 / Article 9 / Section 59-119-920
SECTION 59-119-920. Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this article: (1) "Admissions fee" means the specially designated admissions fee or charge which may, in addition to other charges, be imposed by the trustees upon persons admitted to any event held at an athletic facility, for the purpose of providing funds to assist in the repayment of bonds. (2) "Athletic department" means the athletic department of Clemson. (3) "Athletic facilities" means all facilities designated by the trustees as intercollegiate athletic facilities now owned or hereafter acquired by Clemson. (4) "Bond" or "bonds" means any note, bond, installment contract, or other evidence of indebtedness issued pursuant to this article. (5) "Bond reserve fund" means the special fund which may be established by the trustees pursuant to this article, which must be in the custody of the State Treasurer or its corporate trust designee and which is primarily established for the purpose of providing a reserve with which to meet the payment of the principal of and interest on bonds in the event that payments otherwise required from the debt service fund are insufficient to meet the payment of the principal and interest as and when they become due and payable. (6) "Clemson" means Clemson University. (7) "Debt service fund" means the fund established by this article for the payment of principal of and interest on bonds, which must be in the custody of the State Treasurer or its corporate trust designee. (8) "Net revenues" means all revenues remaining after payment of the operating and maintenance expenses of the athletic department but before provision is made for depreciation, amortization, nonmandatory transfers, and interest expenses of the athletic department for a given fiscal year. (9) "Prior acts" means Acts 446 of 1957, 905 of 1960, 1277 of 1970, 1653 of 1972, 1303 of 1974, 760 of 1976, and 193 and 194 of 1983. (10) "Revenues" means all revenues or other income, including investment income, received by the athletic department from the operation of the athletic department and the athletic facilities, and all gifts, bequests, contributions, and donations received by the trustees or Clemson from any persons, including from any athletic booster organization, for use in connection with the operations of the athletic department, plus any other unrestricted revenues of the athletic department not otherwise pledged that may be made applicable by the trustees to the payment of the principal and interest of the bonds, including such revenues which may fall into the category of nonmandatory transfers as such term is used in generally accepted accounting principles, but excluding: (i) gifts, bequests, contributions, and donations restricted to a particular purpose inconsistent with their use for the payment of the principal, premium, or interest on any obligations of the trustees or Clemson; (ii) the proceeds of any borrowings; (iii) state appropriations of any sort; and (iv) revenues, income, receipts, and money received by the trustees or Clemson for purposes other than those related to the athletic department. (11) "Special student fee" means the fee authorized by this article to be established by the trustees and which may be imposed upon persons in attendance at any academic session of Clemson in order to provide funds to assist in the repayment of bonds. (12) "Authority" means the State Fiscal Accountability Authority. (13) "Trustees" means the board of trustees of Clemson or any successor body.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-33-520 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 33 / Article 5 / Section 59-33-520
SECTION 59-33-520. Training and support for statewide multi-tiered system of supports; universal screening process.
Status: in_force

(A)(1) The State Department of Education shall establish and provide training and support for a statewide MTSS framework that must contain a common data-based problem-solving model, on-going student assessment, and a layered continuum of supports using evidence-based practices. As part of the assessment, a universal screening process must be used to identify students who may be at risk of experiencing academic difficulties in reading, math, or writing, and who also may be at risk of experiencing difficulties in social-emotional development. (2) Beginning with the 2019-2020 School Year, to the extent funding is provided or that approved screening tools are available at no cost, a local school district shall use the universal screening process to screen each student in the district who is in kindergarten through first grade three times each school year and as needed in second grade as outlined in the district's universal screening procedures, and any other student as required by the department, for reading difficulties, including dyslexia, and the need for intervention. (3) In addition to screening required by this subsection, screening also may be requested for a student by his parent or guardian, teacher, counselor, or school psychologist. (B) The district, following the universal screening procedures it conducted, shall convene a school-based team to analyze screening data and progress monitoring data to assist teachers in planning and implementing appropriate instruction and evidence-based interventions for all students who, based on the screening, are at risk of experiencing academic difficulties, including those students who exhibit the characteristics of dyslexia, as provided by the department. Guidance may include suggestions of tiered interventions, dyslexia-specific interventions, academic and social-emotional supports, and supplemental technology as appropriate for the student's access to assistive technology. (C) If the RTI process conducted by the district indicates that a student is at risk for experiencing academic difficulties, including dyslexia, the district shall: (1) notify the parent or legal guardian of the student; (2) provide the parent or legal guardian of the student with information and resource material so that they may assist and support learning for their child; (3) provide the student with tiered, evidence-based intervention as defined in Section 59-33-510; and (4) monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention and the student's progress.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-25-850 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 25 / Article 7 / Section 59-25-850
SECTION 59-25-850. Compensation received prior to filing of complaint not affected.
Status: in_force

Nothing contained herein shall give any teacher any right to claim compensation in addition to that received for the period prior to the filing of the complaint with the county board as provided in Section 59-25-720.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-18-1310 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 18 / Article 13 / Section 59-18-1310
SECTION 59-18-1310. Consolidation of strategic plans and improvement reports; annual submission dates.
Status: repealed

The strategic plans and improvement reports required of the public schools and districts in Sections 59-18-1300, 59-18-1500, and 59-20-60 are consolidated and reported as follows: district and school five-year plans and annual updates and district programmatic reports, and school reports developed in conjunction with the school improvement council to parents and constituents to include recommendations of Education Accountability Act external review teams as approved by the State Board of Education and the steps being taken to address the recommendations, and the advertisement of this report are due on a date established by the Department of Education, but no later than April thirtieth annually; schools reviewed by external review teams shall prepare a report to the parents and constituents of the school, to be developed in conjunction with the School Improvement Council, and this report must be provided and advertised no later than April thirtieth annually. The school report card narrative in Section 59-18-900 continues on its prescribed date. Editor's Note Section 59-18-1500, referenced in the text, was repealed by 2021 Act No. 44, SECTION 2, effective July 1, 2022. Effect of Amendment The 2008 amendment made nonsubstantive changes.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-71-90 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 71 / Article 1 / Section 59-71-90
SECTION 59-71-90. Negotiability and registration.
Status: in_force

The bonds issued pursuant to this article shall be in the form of negotiable coupon bonds, payable to bearer, with the privilege to the holder of having them registered as to principal on the books of the treasurer of the county wherein the operating school unit is located, in whole or in part, and the principal thus made payable to the registered holder (unless the last registered transfer shall have been to bearer) upon such conditions as the authorities may prescribe. Unless registered such bonds shall have all the qualities of negotiable instruments under the law merchant and the Uniform Commercial Code.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-29-410 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 29 / Article 3 / Section 59-29-410
SECTION 59-29-410. Development of high school financial literacy programs; areas of instruction.
Status: in_force

(A) The State Board of Education shall develop or adopt curricula, materials, and guidelines for local school boards to use in implementing a program of instruction on financial literacy within courses currently offered in high schools in this State. (B) The financial literacy program shall include, but not be limited to, instruction in the following areas: (1) opening a deposit account and assessing the quality of a depository institution's services; (2) balancing a check book; (3) spending, credit, credit scoring, and managing debt, including retail and credit card debt; (4) completing a loan application; (5) the implications of an inheritance; (6) the basic principles of personal insurance policies; (7) computing state and federal income taxes; (8) local tax assessments; (9) computing interest rates by various mechanisms; (10) understanding simple contracts; (11) contesting an incorrect billing statement; (12) savings and investing; and (13) state and federal laws concerning finance.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-53-166 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 53 / Article 2 / Section 59-53-166
SECTION 59-53-166. State Treasurer may accept custody of receipts from special student fee.
Status: in_force

The State Treasurer may accept custody of receipts and revenues derived from any special student fee, to deposit them in the applicable debt service fund and in the applicable bond reserve fund and to utilize the proceeds of the debt service fund and the bond reserve fund for the payment of the principal of and interest on bonds, as and when they become due and payable. It shall be the duty of the board to make provision for the transmission of the proceeds of each special student fee to the State Treasurer. Moneys in the debt service fund and the bond reserve fund may be invested and reinvested in obligations of the United States or any agency thereof with maturities consonant with the need for funds to meet the payment of the principal of and interest on the bonds.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-103-190 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 103 / Article 2 / Section 59-103-190
SECTION 59-103-190. Business and industry requested to participate.
Status: in_force

The businesses and industries of this State are requested to provide the opportunity to their employees with children in the eighth grade to attend the counseling sessions and to cooperate with institutions of higher education in presenting at the worksite small group and one-on-one counseling on required high school courses, post-secondary options, financial requirements, and assistance for post-secondary education.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-117-70 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 117 / Article 1 / Section 59-117-70
SECTION 59-117-70. Right of condemnation by board.
Status: in_force

The trustees of the University of South Carolina may, in their discretion, make use of the provisions of the Eminent Domain Procedure Act (Chapter 2 of Title 28) to acquire land for which funds are provided by the General Assembly.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-119-820 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 119 / Article 7 / Section 59-119-820
SECTION 59-119-820. Powers of trustees for securing principal and interest of bonds.
Status: in_force

To the end that the payment of the principal and interest of the bonds authorized by this article is secured adequately, the trustees of Clemson may: (1) issue bonds in such amount within the limitations provided for in this article, as the trustees consider necessary. It is lawful for the trustees to use a portion of the principal proceeds derived from any sale of bonds, except bonds issued to effect refunding of outstanding bonds, to meet the payment of interest on the bonds for a period equal to the period of construction of the facilities to be financed with the proceeds of such bonds, plus a period not exceeding six months. It is recognized by the General Assembly that until the facilities to be constructed with the proceeds of the loan are completed an undue burden may be imposed upon the existing revenues at that time; (2) pledge the revenues or the net revenues of the facilities as designated by the trustees in connection with the issuance of the bonds, whether then or after that time to be existing and to pledge any otherwise available gifts, grants, or donations to Clemson for the payment of the principal of and interest on the bonds as they respectively mature. However, any surplus of the revenues or net revenues available after the payment of costs of operation and maintenance of the facilities and of debt service on the bonds, and the establishment of any debt service reserve obligation under the proceedings providing for the issuance of the bonds, is placed in a contingency and improvement fund for the facilities in order to restore depreciated or obsolete items of the facilities, to make improvements to the facilities, to defray the cost of unforeseen contingencies with regard to the facilities, to prevent defaults under such bonds, or to redeem any of the bonds; (3) further secure the bonds with a pledge of any additional revenues or fees of Clemson as may be authorized under other laws of this State; (4) covenant that no facilities owned by Clemson may be used free of charge, or to specify and limit the facilities which may be used free of charge; (5) covenant to establish and maintain a system of rules as will insure the continuous use and occupancy of the facilities, whose revenues are pledged to secure any bonds; (6) covenant that an adequate schedule of charges be established and maintained for the facilities designated by the trustees, whose revenues or net revenues are pledged to secure the bonds, to the extent necessary to produce sufficient revenues to: (a) pay the cost of operating and maintaining the facilities, whose revenues or net revenues are pledged for the payment of the bonds, including the cost of fire, extended coverage and use, and occupancy insurance; (b) pay the principal and interest of the bonds as they respectively become due; (c) create and at all times maintain an adequate debt service reserve fund to meet the payment of the principal and interest; and (d) create and at all times maintain an adequate reserve for contingencies and for major repairs and replacement. (7) covenant against the mortgaging or disposing of the facilities designated by the trustees, whose revenues or net revenues are pledged for the payment of the bonds, and against permitting or suffering any lien to be created on them, equal or superior to the lien created for the benefit of such bonds. The trustees are empowered to discontinue the use of or demolish obsolete facilities and to reserve the right, under the terms they prescribe, to issue additional bonds on a parity with the bonds authorized by this article, if at some later date they obtain legislative authorization for the issuance of additional bonds; (8) covenant as to the use of the proceeds derived from the sale of any bonds issued pursuant to this article; (9) provide for the terms, form, registration, exchange, execution and authentication of bonds, and for the replacement of lost, destroyed, or mutilated bonds; (10) make covenants with respect to the use of the facilities, to be constructed with the proceeds of the bonds authorized by this article, and of the other facilities, whose revenues must be pledged for the payment of the bonds; (11) covenant that all revenues or net revenues of the particular facilities pledged for the payment of the bonds must be segregated into special funds and that the funds must be used solely for the purposes for which they are intended and for no other purpose; (12) covenant for the mandatory redemption of bonds on the terms and conditions as the resolutions authorizing the bonds prescribe; (13) provide for early defeasance of bonds through the establishment of special escrow accounts maintained by a corporate trustee, which may be the State Treasurer, of cash or United States government obligations, or obligations of agencies of them, which escrows may be funded with proceeds of bonds issued under the provisions of this article or revenues or other funds available to Clemson; (14) prescribe the procedure, if any, by which the terms of the contract with the bondholders may be amended, the number of bonds whose holders must consent to it, and the manner in which consent is given; (15) covenant as to the maintenance of the facilities, whose revenues must be pledged for the payment of the bonds, the insurance to be carried on them, and the use and disposition of proceeds from any insurance policy; (16) prescribe the events of default and the terms and conditions upon which all or any bonds become or may be declared due before maturity and the terms and conditions upon which the declaration and its consequences may be waived; (17) impose a statutory lien upon the facilities designated by the trustees, the revenues or net revenues of which must be pledged to secure the bonds. The lien must extend to the facilities, to their appurtenances and extension, to their additions, improvements and enlargements to the extent specified in the resolutions and must inure to the benefit of the holders of the bonds secured by the lien. The facilities remain subject to the statutory lien until the payment in full of the principal and interest of the bonds. A holder of a bond, or any of the coupons representing interest on them, either at law or in equity, by suit, action, mandamus, or other proceedings, may protect and enforce the statutory lien, and by suit, action, mandamus, or other proceedings may enforce and compel performance of all duties of the trustees, including the fixing of sufficient rates, the proper segregation of the revenues, and the proper application of them. However, the statutory lien may not be construed to give the bond or coupon holder authority to compel the sale of any of the facilities or any part of them; (18) covenant that if there is a default in the payment of the principal of or interest upon any of the bonds, a court having jurisdiction in any proper action may appoint a receiver to administer and operate the facilities designated by the trustees, whose revenues or net revenues are pledged for the payment of the bonds, with power to fix rates and charges for the facilities, sufficient to provide for the payment of the expense of operating and maintaining the facilities, and to apply the income and revenues of the facilities to the payment of the bonds, and the interest on them; (19) establish on or before the delivery of any bonds issued pursuant to this article a debt service reserve fund and to cause it to be deposited with a corporate trustee, who may be the State Treasurer, and to that end, the trustees are empowered to utilize any monies available for that purpose, including revenues previously accumulated from the facilities before the issuance of bonds. In the discretion of the trustees, in lieu of cash, the debt service reserve fund may be funded with a surety bond, insurance policy, letter of credit, line of credit, or similar guarantee. At the discretion of the trustees, Clemson may purchase an insurance policy insuring payment of both principal and interest on any issuance of bonds under the provisions of this article; (20) appoint a corporate trustee, who may be the State Treasurer, or paying agent to whom must be paid all or any portion of the revenues or net revenues pledged to the payment of the bonds or derived from the operation of the facilities, and to prescribe the manner in which these revenues or net revenues must be utilized and disposed of. The corporate trustee shall serve in a fiduciary capacity as trustee for the bondholders under the resolutions of the trustees authorizing the issuance of bonds.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-33-70 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 33 / Article 1 / Section 59-33-70
SECTION 59-33-70. Funding; article is supplementary.
Status: in_force

The General Assembly shall appropriate funds to implement the provisions of this article with initial funding for planning and organizing to begin with the fiscal year 1972-1973. Costs for all programs for handicapped children shall be shared with the school districts on the same basis that education costs are currently provided for such children attending the public schools. The provisions of this article are supplementary to all existing programs for the education of handicapped children.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-71-110 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 71 / Article 1 / Section 59-71-110
SECTION 59-71-110. Interest rate.
Status: in_force

Such bonds shall bear interest at rates to be named by the authorities.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-53-1950 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 53 / Article 21 / Section 59-53-1950
SECTION 59-53-1950. Appropriations for purchase of career and technology training equipment; priorities.
Status: in_force

The General Assembly shall provide funds in the annual general appropriations act for the purchase of equipment for career and technology training pursuant to the Department of Education's State Plan for Career and Technology Education. The highest priority in funding for career and technology education must be given to work force preparation, occupational proficiency courses in areas related to: (1) current high technology trades, businesses, and industries; (2) high labor market and high labor intensive demand; (3) small business management; and (4) new and emerging trades, industries, and businesses which foster and enhance the economic development, stability, and diversification of the state's economy. Effect of Amendment The 2005 amendment substituted "career and technology" for "vocational", "Career and Technology Education" for "vocational technical education", and "work force preparation" for "job preparatory"; and redesignated items (a) to (d) as items (1) to (4).
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-18-1910 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 18 / Article 19 / Section 59-18-1910
SECTION 59-18-1910. Homework centers.
Status: repealed

Schools receiving below average or school/district at-risk designations may use technical assistance funds allocated pursuant to Section 59-18-1590 to provide homework centers that go beyond the regular school hours where students can come and receive assistance in understanding and completing their school work. Technical assistance funds provided for these centers may be used for salaries for certified teachers and for transportation costs. Editor's Note Section 59-18-1590, referenced in the text, was repealed by 2021 Act No. 44, SECTION 2, effective July 1, 2022. Effect of Amendment The 2008 amendment rewrote this section.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-19-200 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 19 / Article 1 / Section 59-19-200
SECTION 59-19-200. Condemnation of lands by trustees.
Status: in_force

In case any owner of any lot or parcel of land refuses to sell it or demands what may be considered by the authorities an unreasonable price, the authorities may proceed to condemn the land pursuant to the Eminent Domain Procedure Act (Chapter 2 of Title 28).
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-16-20 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 16 / Section 59-16-20
SECTION 59-16-20. Housing and management of program; standards for courses; instructor certification and training.
Status: in_force

(A) The South Carolina Virtual School Program shall be housed in and managed by the State Department of Education. The department may contract for distance learning courses, develop courses, or approve courses submitted by entities. (B) Each course offered for a unit of credit shall be reviewed for correlation with the state adopted academic standards prior to being offered. (C) All distance, online, or virtual learning courses offered for a unit of credit must be aligned with the state adopted academic standards, include appropriate course materials, and be approved by the State Department of Education. (D) Instructors must hold a valid teaching certificate in each content area being taught or receive approval from the State Department of Education to teach the course. (E) All virtual schoolteachers must receive appropriate preservice and in-service training pertaining to the organization, classroom management, technical aspects, monitoring of student assessment, and other pertinent training from the State Department of Education. SECTION 59-16-30. Definitions As used in this chapter: (1) "Distance learning" means the acquisition of knowledge and skills through mediated information and instruction, encompassing all technologies and other forms of learning at a distance. Distance learning includes online and virtual courses. (2) "Online learning" means learning delivered by web-based or internet-based technologies. (3) "Proctored" means directly monitored by an adult authorized by the South Carolina Virtual School Program. (4) "Virtual classroom" means the online learning space where students and instructors interact. (5) "School year" means the one hundred eighty days of student instruction required pursuant to Section 59-1-420 and student instruction received as part of a summer school program. (6) "Credit recovery" means self-paced, semester-long courses that target learning in areas of greatest weakness, allowing nontraditional or at-risk students to rapidly complete courses, recover credits, and progress to graduation.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-46-50 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 46 / Section 59-46-50
SECTION 59-46-50. Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children.
Status: in_force

The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children is enacted into law and entered into with all other jurisdictions legally joining in the compact in the form substantially as follows: INTERSTATE COMPACT ON EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR MILITARY CHILDREN
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-125-350 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 125 / Article 3 / Section 59-125-350
SECTION 59-125-350. Securement of repayment.
Status: in_force

Bonds issued pursuant to this article must be payable from the revenues or the net revenues derived by Winthrop from these facilities as designated by the trustees with respect to the bonds. The trustees may abandon the use of any portion of the facilities or sell or dispose of any portion of the facilities upon receipt of a written recommendation by the chief financial officer of Winthrop to the effect that the action shall not adversely affect the ability of Winthrop to discharge its obligations to the holders of bonds issued pursuant to this article and upon the further conditions as prescribed in the resolution of the trustees providing for the issuance of bonds. The bonds issued pursuant to this article may be further secured by the additional pledges of other revenues or fees of Winthrop as it may be authorized to grant pursuant to other laws of this State.
S.C. Code Ann. § 59-111-130 — SC Code / Title 59 / Chapter 111 / Article 3 / Section 59-111-130
SECTION 59-111-130. "Law enforcement officer" defined.
Status: in_force

For the purposes of this article, a law enforcement officer means a: (1) person performing law enforcement duties at the request of and under the supervision of an official state, municipal, or county law enforcement agency in South Carolina when the person is totally disabled or killed in the line of duty; (2) person performing law enforcement duties at the request of and under the supervision of a federal agency when the person is totally disabled or killed in the line of duty if he has been a resident of South Carolina for at least eighteen years. This item applies whether or not the law enforcement officer was disabled or killed in South Carolina or another state.