reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 18 - Education Accountability Act › Section 59-18-930. Publication of report cards; issuance date; advertising results.

(A) The State Department of Education annually shall publish on its website home page the report card to all schools and districts of the State no later than November fifteenth, for the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 School Years. To further increase transparency and accountability, for the 2018-2019 School Year, the school's report card must be furnished to parents and the public no later than October first. For the 2019-2020 School Year, and every subsequent year, the school's report card must be furnished to parents and the public no later than September first. The home page report card must be capable of being downloaded into a portable document format (PDF) and must contain National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scores or other national scores or comparisons, if available. The report card summary must be made available to all parents of the school and the school district.
(B) The school, in conjunction with the district board, also must inform the community of the school's report card by advertising the results in at least one South Carolina daily newspaper of general circulation in the area. This notice must be published within forty-five days of receipt of the report cards issued by the State Department of Education and must be a minimum of two columns by ten inches (four and one-half by ten inches) with at least a twenty-four point bold headline.
(C) If an audited newspaper of general circulation in a school district's geographic area has previously published the entire school report card results as a news item, the requirement of subsection (B) may be waived.
HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 400, Section 2; 2008 Act No. 282, Section 1, eff June 5, 2008; 2008 Act No. 353, Section 2, Pt 1A.C.1 eff July 1, 2008; 2009 Act No. 34, Section 1, eff June 2, 2009; 2017 Act No. 94 (H.3969), Section 14, eff June 10, 2017.
Effect of Amendment
The first 2008 amendment created the second undesignated paragraph from the third and fourth sentences of the existing section; rewrote the first undesignated paragraph to require an executive summary of the annual report card; and in the second sentence of the second undesignated paragraph substituted "forty-five days" for "ninety days".
The second 2008 amendment made identical changes.
The 2009 amendment designated subsections (A) and (B) and added subsection (C) relating to waiving the advertising requirement.
2017 Act No. 94, Section 14, amended (A), providing the department may publish the report card on its website in a certain manner, and providing certain national assessment scores may be included.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 18 - Education Accountability Act › Section 59-18-1100. Palmetto Gold and Silver Awards Program established; criteria.

The State Board of Education, working with the division and the Department of Education, must establish the Palmetto Gold and Silver Awards Program to recognize and reward schools for academic achievement and for closing the achievement gap. Awards will be established for schools attaining high levels of absolute performance, for schools attaining high rates of growth, and for schools making substantial progress in closing the achievement gap between disaggregated groups. The award program must base improved performance on longitudinally matched student data and may include such additional criteria as:
(1) student attendance;
(2) teacher attendance;
(3) graduation rates; and
(4) other factors promoting or maintaining high levels of achievement and performance. Schools shall be rewarded according to specific criteria established by the division. In defining eligibility for a reward for high levels of performance, student performance should exceed expected levels of improvement. The State Board of Education shall promulgate regulations to ensure districts of the State utilize these funds to improve or maintain exceptional performance according to their school's plans established in Section 59-139-10. Funds may be utilized for professional development support.
Special schools for the academically talented are not eligible to receive an award pursuant to the provisions of this section unless they have demonstrated improvement and high absolute achievement for three years immediately preceding.
HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 400, Section 2; 2008 Act No. 282, Section 1, eff June 5, 2008.
Effect of Amendment
The 2008 amendment added "and for closing the achievement gap" at the end of the first sentence, in the second sentence, substituted "growth, and for schools making substantial progress in closing the achievement gap between disaggregated groups" for "improvement", and, in item (3), substituted "graduation" for "student dropout".
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 18 - Education Accountability Act › Section 59-18-1110. Grant of flexibility of receiving exemption from regulations; criteria; continuation of and removal from flexibility status.

(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a school is given the flexibility of receiving exemptions from those regulations and statutory provisions governing the defined program provided that, during a three-year period, the following criteria are satisfied:
(1) the school has twice been a recipient of a Palmetto Gold or Silver Award, pursuant to Section 59-18-1100;
(2) the school has met annual improvement standards for subgroups of students in reading and mathematics; and
(3) the school has exhibited no recurring accreditation deficiencies.
(B) Schools receiving flexibility status are released from those regulations and statutory provisions referred to above including, but not limited to, regulations and statutory provisions on class scheduling, class structure, and staffing.
(C) To continue to receive flexibility pursuant to this section, a school must annually exhibit school improvement at or above the state average as computed in the school recognition program pursuant to Section 59-18-1100 and must meet the gains required for subgroups of students in reading and mathematics. A school which does not requalify for flexibility status due to extenuating circumstances may apply to the State Board of Education for an extension of this status for one year.
(D) In the event that a school is removed from flexibility status, the school is not subject to regulations and statutory provisions exempted under this section until the beginning of the school year following notification of the change in status by the State Department of Education. Subsequent monitoring by the State Department of Education in a school that is removed from flexibility status shall not include a review of program records exempted under this section for the period that the school has received flexibility status or for the school year during which the school was notified of its removal from flexibility status.
HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 400, Section 2; 2008 Act No. 282, Section 1, eff June 5, 2008.
Effect of Amendment
The 2008 amendment, in subsection (B), deleted the second sentence relating to promulgation of regulations.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 18 - Education Accountability Act › Section 59-18-1120. Grant of flexibility of exemption from regulations and statutes to school designated as school/district at-risk; extension to other schools.

(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a school designated as school/district at-risk while in such status is given the flexibility of receiving exemptions from those regulations and statutory provisions governing the defined program or other State Board of Education regulations, dealing with the core academic areas as outlined in Section 59-18-120, provided that the review team recommends such flexibility to the State Board of Education.
(B) Other schools may receive flexibility when their school renewal plan explains why such exemptions are expected to improve the academic performance of the students and the plan meets the approval by the State Board of Education. To continue to receive flexibility pursuant to this section, a school must annually exhibit overall school improvement as outlined in its revised plan and must meet the gains set for subgroups of students in content areas included in the accountability assessments. A school which does not requalify for flexibility status due to extenuating circumstances may apply to the State Board of Education for an extension of this status for one year according to the provisions of Section 59-18-1110(D).
HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 400, Section 2; 2008 Act No. 282, Section 1, eff June 5, 2008.
Effect of Amendment
The 2008 amendment, in subsection (A), substituted "school/district at-risk" for "unsatisfactory"; and, in subsection (B), in the first sentence substituted "school renewal" for "strategic", and in the second sentence "content areas included in the accountability assessments" for "reading and mathematics".
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 18 - Education Accountability Act › Section 59-18-1130. Use of funds appropriated for professional development.

(A) Notwithstanding another provision of law to the contrary, funds appropriated for professional development must be used for certificated instructional and instructional leadership personnel in grades kindergarten through twelve in the academic areas for which State Board of Education standard documents have been approved to better link instruction and lesson plans to the standards and to statewide adopted readiness assessment tests, to develop classroom assessments consistent with the standards and testing measures, and to analyze assessment results for needed modification in instructional strategies. No more than five percent of funds appropriated for professional development may be retained by the State Department of Education for administration of the program; however, a district may choose to purchase professional development services provided by the State Department of Education with the funds allocated to the districts for professional development. Funds also may be expended for certificated instructional and instructional leadership personnel in grades six through twelve to achieve competency in teaching reading to students who score below proficient on the reading component of assessment tests.
(B) Two hundred fifty thousand dollars of the funds allocated to professional development must be provided to the State Department of Education to implement successfully the South Carolina Readiness Assessment by creating a validation process for teachers to ensure reliable administration of the assessment, providing professional development on effective utilization, and establishing the relationship between the readiness measure and third grade standards-based assessments. Multi-day work sessions must be provided around the State during the summer, fall, and winter using staff development days and teacher workdays. Two of the remaining professional development days must be set aside for the specific purpose of preparing and opening schools. District instructional leaders, regional service centers, consortia, development personnel, university faculty, contracted providers, and the resources of the Educational Television Network may be used to implement the professional development initiative. Teachers participating in the program shall receive credit toward recertification according to State Board of Education guidelines. Funds provided for professional development on standards may be carried forward into the current fiscal year to be expended for the same purpose. No less than twenty-five percent of the funds allocated for professional development may be expended on the teaching of reading, which includes teaching reading across content areas in grades three through eight.
HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 353, Section 2, Pt 1A.A, eff July 1, 2009.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 18 - Education Accountability Act › Section 59-18-1300. District accountability system; support, development, and review.

The State Board of Education, based on recommendations of the division, must develop regulations requiring that each district board of trustees must establish and annually review a performance based accountability system, or modify its existing accountability system, to reinforce the state accountability system. Parents, teachers, and principals must be involved in the development, annual review, and revisions of the accountability system established by the district. The board of trustees shall ensure that a district accountability plan be developed, reviewed, and revised annually. In order to stimulate constant improvement in the process of teaching and learning in each school and to target additional local assistance for a school when its students' performance is low or shows little improvement, the district accountability system must build on the district and school activities and plans required in Section 59-139-10. In keeping with the emphasis on school accountability, principals should be actively involved in the selection, discipline, and dismissal of personnel in their particular school. The date the school improvement reports must be provided to parents is changed to February first.
The Department of Education shall offer technical support to any district requesting assistance in the development of an accountability plan. Furthermore, the department must conduct a review of accountability plans as part of the peer review process required in Section 59-139-10(H) to ensure strategies are contained in the plans that shall maximize student learning.
HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 400, Section 2; 2008 Act No. 282, Section 1, eff June 5, 2008.
Effect of Amendment
The 2008 amendment deleted obsolete provisions throughout.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 18 - Education Accountability Act › Section 59-18-1310. Consolidation of strategic plans and improvement reports; annual submission dates.

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.
HISTORY: 2003 Act No. 89, Section 4, eff July 23, 2003; 2008 Act No. 282, Section 1, eff June 5, 2008.
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.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 18 - Education Accountability Act › Section 59-18-1615. Definitions.

As used in this article:
(1) "Chronically underperforming school" means:
(a) a school that receives an overall rating of unsatisfactory for three consecutive years on its annual school report card, as provided in Section 59-18-900; or
(b) in the absence of the annual school report card, the Department of Education shall apply the same metrics as established in the state and federal combined accountability model, as defined in the Every Student Succeeds Act to identify "chronically underperforming schools".
(2) "School district" or "district" is defined pursuant to Section 59-1-160.
(3) "Turnaround plan" means a plan outlining goals for a school or district's educational improvement that includes specific strategies designed to increase student achievement and measures to evaluate the success of the implementation of the plan so that the school or district is no longer underperforming or chronically underperforming. The department is required to provide schools and districts with a template to complete the turnaround plan.
(4) "Underperforming district" means a district in which sixty-five percent or more of the schools in the district have an overall rating of unsatisfactory or below average on their annual school report cards, as provided in Section 59-18-900, or as defined in item (5).
(5) "Underperforming school" means:
(a) a school that receives an overall rating of unsatisfactory or below average on its annual school report card, as provided in Section 59-18-900; or
(b) in the absence of the annual school report card, the Department of Education shall apply the same metrics as established in the state and federal combined accountability model, as defined in the Every Students Succeed Act to identify "underperforming schools".
HISTORY: 2021 Act No. 44 (S.201), Section 1, eff July 1, 2022.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 18 - Education Accountability Act › Section 59-18-1620. Implementation of tiered system for providing technical and other assistance, professional development, and monitoring for schools and districts; reports.

(A) The department shall implement a tiered system for providing technical and other assistance, professional development, and monitoring for schools and districts. By December thirty-first of each year, the State Superintendent of Education shall report to the General Assembly on the tiered system's progress relating to assistance provided to schools and school districts. The report shall include data documenting the impact of the assistance on student academic achievement, college and career readiness, and high school graduation rates.
(B) As a component of determining if and where assistance and changes are necessary, the department shall:
(1) monitor the professional development of teachers, staff, and administrators provided by or approved through districts and schools;
(2) monitor local school board operations for efficient and effective management; and
(3) identify and provide a summary of improvements and changes to the school districts, district school boards, and other involved parties.
HISTORY: 2021 Act No. 44 (S.201), Section 1, eff July 1, 2022.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 18 - Education Accountability Act › Section 59-18-1625. Designation as an underperforming school or district; notification; turnaround plan; revised strategic plan.

(A) Upon a school's or district's designation as an underperforming school or district, the department shall immediately place the school or district into a tiered status to provide technical assistance. The department shall notify the underperforming school or district and the district superintendent of the tiered status.
(B)(1) Upon receiving notification from the department, the district superintendent, in consultation with school and community stakeholders, must review and revise the school and district's strategic plan with the assistance of the School Improvement Council, as established in Section 59-20-60, to include a turnaround plan component for any underperforming school or district.
(2) The turnaround plan component of the revised strategic plan must:
(a) be based on data or needs assessments to identify specific improvement strategies related to underperforming school turnaround;
(b) include, at a minimum, specific and measurable goals, actions, activities, resource needs, student achievement goals, professional development plans, and academic interventions that are reasonable and necessary to improve student progress toward achieving the Profile of the Graduate for each school;
(c) include broad-based community input including, but not limited to, input from parents, teachers, principals, local school board members, businesses, community leaders, health providers, social services agencies, school improvement councils, or early childhood providers; and
(d) be submitted by the district superintendent to the local board of trustees for approval.
(C) Upon approval by the local board of trustees, the turnaround plan component of the revised strategic plan must be submitted to the department for review and approval. Thereafter, the district superintendent and the local board of trustees annually shall submit updates to the department regarding the implementation of the turnaround and revised strategic plan, including metrics assessing the impact of the activities included in the plan.
(D) Once approved by the department, the revised strategic plan must be prominently posted on the respective websites of the department, district, and school. The department shall monitor the district's implementation of the revised strategic plan and evaluation of students' academic progress, as provided for in the plan, and shall apprise the State Board of Education of the district's progress once a quarter.
(E) For a school receiving an underperforming rating, the district and local board of trustees must work with the school principal to inform the parents of students of the rating. The notification must outline the steps in the revised strategic plan to improve performance, including the support that the local district board of trustees has agreed to give the plan.
HISTORY: 2021 Act No. 44 (S.201), Section 1, eff July 1, 2022.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 18 - Education Accountability Act › Section 59-18-1630. Schools receiving overall unsatisfactory rating.

Upon the release of the annual report card issued pursuant to Section 59-18-900, the department shall notify the appropriate legislative delegation of any school receiving an overall unsatisfactory rating. The local school board and district superintendent with jurisdiction over the unsatisfactory school shall:
(1) notify parents of students in writing and electronically;
(2) schedule, prominently publicize, and hold a public meeting to explain the school's rating, its implications, how it must develop and implement a revised strategic plan for improvement, and how it will involve and engage the community in its plans, within thirty days of receiving the rating;
(3) immediately review and revise its strategic plan, which must incorporate and focus on turnaround plan components for each school designated as unsatisfactory in accordance with the template and guidelines provided by the department; and
(4) upon department approval, immediately list the revised strategic plan as a topic on the local district board meeting agenda at least once a quarter.
HISTORY: 2021 Act No. 44 (S.201), Section 1, eff July 1, 2022.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 18 - Education Accountability Act › Section 59-18-1635. State-of-education emergency declarations for schools.

(A) The State Superintendent of Education may seek a state-of-education emergency declaration for a school that he has the capacity to serve under the following circumstances:
(1) the school is chronically underperforming;
(2) the school's accreditation is denied; or
(3) the State Superintendent of Education determines that a school's turnaround plan results are insufficient.
(B) If the State Superintendent of Education determines that a school state-of-education emergency declaration is justified, then he must request that the State Board of Education meet to approve or disapprove the declaration. The State Board of Education must meet within ten days of the request to approve or disapprove the declaration.
(C) Upon the approval of a state-of-education emergency declaration, the State Superintendent of Education shall:
(1) notify the appropriate district superintendent, local school board, and local legislative delegation and the Governor; and
(2) assume management of the school.
(D) The local district board may, upon a majority vote, appeal the State Board of Education's approval of the declaration to the Administrative Law Court within ten business days of receipt of the notice of the declaration. A request for a hearing must be made in accordance with the court's rules; provided, however, that a request for a contested case hearing for an emergency declaration does not stay the declaration.
(E) Once a school subject to subsection (C) has met annual targets identified in the revised strategic plan for sustained improvement for a minimum of three consecutive years, the State Superintendent of Education shall submit to the State Board of Education documentation of such. Upon an affirmative vote by the State Board of Education to end the state-of-education emergency, the department, in consultation with the district and local board of trustees, shall develop a transition plan and timeline for returning management of the school to the district.
(F) After a school has been in a state-of-education emergency for three consecutive years, the State Superintendent of Education may extend the state-of-education emergency for an additional three-year period only upon the approval of the State Board of Education. The State Superintendent of Education may make requests every three years, which must be approved or disapproved by the board. If the State Superintendent of Education does not request additional time, or if the State Board of Education disapproves a request, then the school shall revert back to the control of the local school board.
HISTORY: 2021 Act No. 44 (S.201), Section 1, eff July 1, 2022.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 18 - Education Accountability Act › Section 59-18-1700. Public information campaign; development and approval; funding.

(A) An on-going public information campaign must be established to apprise the public of the status of the public schools and the importance of high standards for academic performance for the public school students of South Carolina. A special committee must be appointed by the chairman of the Education Oversight Committee to include two committee members representing business and two representing education and others representing business, industry, and education. The committee shall plan and oversee the development of a campaign, including public service announcements for the media and other such avenues as deemed appropriate for informing the public.
(B) A separate fund within the state general fund will be established to accept grants, gifts, and donations from any public or private source or monies that may be appropriated by the General Assembly for the public information campaign. Members of the Oversight Committee representing business will solicit donations for this fund. Income from the fund must be retained in the fund. All funds may be carried forward from fiscal year to fiscal year. The State Treasurer shall invest the monies in this fund in the same manner as other funds under his control are invested. The Oversight Committee shall administer and authorize any disbursements from the fund. Private individuals and groups shall be encouraged to contribute to this endeavor.
HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 400, Section 2; 2008 Act No. 282, Section 1, eff June 5, 2008.
Effect of Amendment
The 2008 amendment deleted the last sentence which was outdated.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 18 - Education Accountability Act › Section 59-18-1910. Homework centers.

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.
HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 400, Section 2; 2008 Act No. 282, Section 1, eff June 5, 2008.
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.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 18 - Education Accountability Act › Section 59-18-1920. Modified school year or school day schedule; grant program established; application; implementation plan.

(A) The State Board of Education, through the Department of Education, shall establish a grant program to encourage school districts to pilot test or implement a modified school year or school day schedule. The purpose of the grant is to assist with the additional costs incurred during the intersessions for salaries, transportation, and operations, or for additional costs incurred by lengthening the school day. For a district to qualify for a grant, all the schools within a specific feeder zone or elementary-to-middle-to-high-school attendance area, must be pilot testing or implementing the modified year or day schedule.
(B) To obtain a grant, a district shall submit an application to the state board in a format specified by the Department of Education. The application shall include a plan for implementing a modified year or day that provides the following: more time for student learning, learning opportunities that typically are not available in the regular student day, targeted assistance for students whose academic performance is significantly below promotion standards, more efficient use of facilities and other resources, and evaluations of the impact of the modified schedule. Local district boards of trustees shall require students whose performance in a core subject area, as defined in Section 59-18-300, is the equivalent of a "D" average or below to attend the intersessions or stay for the lengthened day and receive special assistance in the subject area. Funding for the program is as provided by the General Assembly in the annual appropriations act. Each grant award for program pilot testing or implementation may not exceed a three-year period.
HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 400, Section 2; 2008 Act No. 282, Section 1, eff June 5, 2008.
Effect of Amendment
The 2008 amendment, in subsection (A), deleted the fourth sentence giving districts declared to be impaired a priority in obtaining the grants.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 18 - Education Accountability Act › Section 59-18-1930. Review of state and local professional development; recommendations for improvement.

The Education Oversight Committee shall provide for a comprehensive review of state and local professional development to include principal leadership development and teacher staff development. The review must provide an analysis of training to include what professional development is offered, how it is offered, the support given to implement skills acquired from professional development, and how the professional development enhances the academic goals outlined in district and school strategic plans. The Oversight Committee shall recommend better ways to provide and meet the needs for professional development, to include the use of the existing five contract days for in-service. Needed revisions shall be made to state regulations to promote use of state dollars for training which meets national standards for staff development.
Upon receipt of the recommendations from the comprehensive review of state and local professional development, the State Department of Education shall develop an accountability system to ensure that identified professional development standards are effectively implemented. As part of this system the department shall provide information on the identified standards to all principals and other professional development leaders. Training for all school districts in how to design comprehensive professional development programs that are consistent with the standards also shall be a part of the implementation. A variety of staff development options that address effective teaching and assessment of state academic standards and workforce preparation skills shall be included in the information provided to principals and other professional development leaders to ensure high levels of student achievement.
HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 400, Section 2; 2001 Act No. 39, Section 4; 2008 Act No. 282, Section 1, eff June 5, 2008.
Effect of Amendment
The 2008 amendment made no apparent changes.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 18 - Education Accountability Act › Section 59-18-1940. Pilot district accountability models.

Working with the Education Oversight Committee, the State Department of Education shall design and pilot district accountability models that focus on competency-based education for a district or school or on regional or county economic initiatives to improve the postsecondary success of students. A district may apply to the department and the committee to participate in the pilot.
HISTORY: 2017 Act No. 94 (H.3969), Section 1, eff June 10, 2017.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 18 - Education Accountability Act › Section 59-18-1950. Longitudinal data system.

(A) The General Assembly recognizes the importance of having a state longitudinal data system to inform policy and fiscal decisions related to early childhood education, public education, postsecondary preparedness and success, and workforce development.
(B)(1) The Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office, working with the Office of First Steps to School Readiness, the South Carolina Department of Education, the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, the Department of Social Services, the South Carolina Technical College System, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Employment and Workforce, and other state agencies or institutions of higher education, shall develop, implement, and maintain a universal identification system that includes, at a minimum, the following information for measuring the continuous improvement of the state public education system and the college and career readiness and success of its graduates:
(a) students graduating from public high schools in the State who enter postsecondary education without the need for remediation;
(b) working-aged adults in South Carolina by county who possess a postsecondary degree or industry credential;
(c) high school graduates who are gainfully employed in the State within five and ten years of graduating from high school; and
(d) outcome data regarding student achievement and student growth that will assist colleges of education in achieving accreditation and in improving the quality of teachers in classrooms.
(2) All information disseminated will conform to state and federal privacy laws.
HISTORY: 2017 Act No. 94 (H.3969), Section 2, eff June 10, 2017.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 18 - Education Accountability Act › Section 59-18-1960. School growth measurement system.

In measuring annual school growth, with approval of the State Board of Education and the Education Oversight Committee, the State shall use a value-added system that calculates student progress or growth. A local school district may, in its discretion, use the value-added system to evaluate classroom teachers using student progress or growth. The estimates of specific teacher effects on the educational progress of students will not be a public record and will be made available only to the specific teacher, principal, and superintendent. Furthermore, the estimates of specific teacher effects also may be made to any teacher preparation programs approved by the State Board of Education. The estimates made available to the teacher preparation programs shall not be a public record and shall be used only in evaluation of the respective teacher preparation programs. Furthermore, educator effectiveness data must be exempt from public disclosure pursuant to Section 30-4-30, and may not be subject to the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act. An institution or postsecondary system receiving the estimates shall develop a policy to protect the confidentiality of the data.
HISTORY: 2017 Act No. 94 (H.3969), Section 3, eff June 10, 2017.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 19 - School Trustees › Section 59-19-10. School district management.

Each school district shall be under the management and control of the board of trustees provided for in this article, subject to the supervision and orders of the county board of education.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-221; 1952 Code Section 21-221; 1942 Code Section 5328; 1932 Code Section 5354; Civ. C. '22 Section 2601; Civ. C. '12 Section 1740; Civ. C. '02 Section 1206; 1896 (21) 162; 1919 (31) 78.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 19 - School Trustees › Section 59-19-20. Composition of boards of school trustees; terms.

Unless it be specially provided otherwise by law, the boards of school trustees in this State shall be composed of three members, each of whom when appointed, pursuant to the terms hereof, shall hold office for a term of three years.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-222; 1952 Code Section 21-222; 1942 Code Section 5343; 1932 Code Section 5369; Civ. C. '22 Section 2615; Civ. C. '12 Section 1752; Civ. C. '02 Section 1210; 1903 (23) 64; 1904 (23) 528; 1906 (24) 31; 1914 (28) 480, 567; 1915 (29) 106; 1917 (30) 306; 1918 (30) 3; 1919 (31) 209, 212, 653; 1920 (31) 837; 1921 (32) 93; 1922 (32) 768, 784; 1926 (34) 1017; 1927 (35) 244, 259; 1928 (35) 1197; 1930 (36) 1307, 1518, 1960; 1933 (38) 493; 1937 (40) 235, 579.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 19 - School Trustees › Section 59-19-30. Appointment of members.

The original trustees having been appointed for terms of one, two and three years, respectively, the county boards of education shall, during the first week of April in each year, appoint one trustee for each district from the qualified electors and taxpayers residing in the district for which the appointment is made to succeed the trustee whose term expires during that year and to serve with the holdover members until his successor has been appointed and qualified.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-223; 1952 Code Section 21-223; 1942 Code Section 5343; 1932 Code Section 5369; Civ. C. '22 Section 2615; Civ. C. '12 Section 1752; Civ. C. '02 Section 1210; 1903 (23) 64; 1904 (23) 528; 1906 (24) 31; 1914 (28) 480, 567; 1915 (29) 106; 1917 (30) 306; 1918 (30) 3; 1919 (31) 209, 212, 653; 1920 (31) 837; 1921 (32) 93; 1922 (32) 768, 784; 1926 (34) 1017; 1927 (35) 244, 259; 1928 (35) 1197; 1930 (36) 1307, 1518, 1960; 1933 (38) 493; 1937 (40) 235, 579.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 19 - School Trustees › Section 59-19-40. Appointment of members; special provisions not superseded by Section 59-19-30.

The provisions of Section 59-19-30 shall neither repeal, supersede nor annul any special act providing for the appointment or election of school trustees in any school district or in any of the several counties of the State.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-224; 1952 Code Section 21-224; 1942 Code Section 5343; 1932 Code Section 5369; Civ. C. '22 Section 2615; Civ. C. '12 Section 1752; Civ. C. '02 Section 1210; 1903 (23) 64; 1904 (23) 528; 1906 (24) 31; 1914 (28) 480, 567; 1915 (29) 106; 1917 (30) 306; 1918 (30) 3; 1919 (31) 209, 212, 653; 1920 (31) 837; 1921 (32) 93; 1922 (32) 768, 784; 1926 (34) 1017; 1927 (35) 244, 259; 1928 (35) 1197; 1930 (36) 1307, 1518, 1960; 1933 (38) 493; 1937 (40) 235, 579.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 19 - School Trustees › Section 59-19-45. Mandatory orientation for school district boards of trustees and county boards of education; exceptions.

(A) Within one year of taking office, all persons elected or appointed as members of a school district board of trustees after July 1, 1997, shall complete successfully an orientation program in the powers, duties, and responsibilities of a board member including, but not limited to, topics on policy development, personnel, superintendent and board relations, instructional programs, district finance, school law, ethics, and community relations.
(B) The orientation shall be approved by the State Board of Education and conducted by public or private entities approved by the State Board of Education such as the South Carolina School Boards Association.
(C) The provisions of this section also apply to members of county boards of education appointed or elected after July 1, 1997, in the same manner the provisions of this section apply to members of school district boards of trustees.
(D) The provisions of this section do not apply to a school board trustee or county board of education member who was serving in such office on July 1, 1997, and who is continuously reelected or reappointed to office thereafter.
(E) The State Department of Education shall reimburse a school district or county board of education conducting an orientation for a new board member as required by this section at the rate of eighty dollars for a member, provided that the total reimbursements by the department in one fiscal year must not exceed ten thousand dollars. If the total projected cost of these reimbursements for a year as determined by the department exceeds ten thousand dollars, the eighty-dollar reimbursement for each new member must be reduced proportionately. If funds are not available for these reimbursements, the board member orientation is not required but may be conducted at the option of a school district or county board of education. The State Board of Education shall establish guidelines and procedures for these reimbursements.
(F) The State Department of Education must keep a record of the school board trustees who complete the orientation program.
HISTORY: 1997 Act No. 155, Part II, Section 19A; 2002 Act No. 265, Section 1.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 19 - School Trustees › Section 59-19-50. Appointment and term of trustees for consolidated districts.

When school districts are consolidated, the county board of education shall appoint, from within the consolidated district, five trustees to serve as trustees of the new district, two for a term of one year, two for a term of two years and one for a term of three years. Thereafter the successors of all such trustees shall be elected for a term of three years or be appointed as provided by law.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-224.1; 1952 Code Section 21-224.1; 1951 (47) 546.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 19 - School Trustees › Section 59-19-60. Removal of trustees; vacancies.

Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, school district trustees who wilfully commit or engage in an act of malfeasance, misfeasance, chronic unexcused absenteeism, conflicts of interest, misconduct in office, or persistent neglect of duty in office, or are deemed medically incompetent or medically incapacitated, are subject to removal by the Governor upon any of the foregoing causes being made to appear to the satisfaction of the Governor. Before removing any such officer, the Governor shall inform him in writing of the specific charges brought against him and give him an opportunity on reasonable notice to be heard. Vacancies occurring in the membership of any board of trustees for any cause shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as provided for full-term appointments.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-225; 1952 Code Section 21-225; 1942 Code Section 5343; 1932 Code Section 5369; Civ. C. '22 Section 2615; Civ. C. '12 Section 1752; Civ. C. '02 Section 1210; 1903 (23) 64; 1904 (23) 528; 1906 (24) 31; 1914 (28) 480, 567; 1915 (29) 106; 1917 (30) 306; 1918 (30) 3; 1919 (31) 209, 212, 653; 1920 (31) 837; 1921 (32) 93; 1922 (32) 768, 784; 1926 (34) 1017; 1927 (35) 244, 259; 1928 (35) 1197; 1930 (36) 1307, 1518, 1960; 1933 (38) 493; 1937 (40) 235, 579; 1961 (52) 416; 2022 Act No. 138 (S.203), Section 1, eff April 25, 2022.
Effect of Amendment
2022 Act No. 138, Section 1, rewrote the section, providing that the Governor may remove trustees and fill vacancies.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 19 - School Trustees › Section 59-19-70. Chairman and clerk of board.

The trustees shall, as soon as practicable after the appointment of any new trustee, organize by the election of one of their members as chairman and another as clerk of the board. The chairman shall preside at meetings of the board and perform other duties imposed on him under the law, and the clerk shall keep a record of the proceedings of all meetings in a book provided for that purpose and perform all other duties required of him by law.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-226; 1952 Code Section 21-226; 1942 Code Section 5343; 1932 Code Section 5369; Civ. C. '22 Section 2615; Civ. C. '12 Section 1752; Civ. C. '02 Section 1210; 1903 (23) 64; 1904 (23) 528; 1906 (24) 31; 1914 (28) 480, 567; 1915 (29) 106; 1917 (30) 306; 1918 (30) 3; 1919 (31) 209, 212, 653; 1920 (31) 837; 1921 (32) 93; 1922 (32) 768, 784; 1926 (34) 1017; 1927 (35) 244, 259; 1928 (35) 1197; 1930 (36) 1307, 1518, 1960; 1933 (38) 493; 1937 (40) 235, 579.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 19 - School Trustees › Section 59-19-80. Requirements as to purchases and teacher employment.

No teacher or other employee shall be employed or any purchase made except in a duly called meeting of the board, of which meeting each member has been notified in writing by the clerk of the board at least three days in advance thereof, unless a written waiver of such notice of meeting is signed by each member of the board, and unless such action or the memoranda of the terms of any such contract of employment or purchase shall be duly recorded in the minutes of such meeting and approved by the board. No contract shall be entered into with teachers who are under a teaching contract in South Carolina before April fifteenth of each year. In lieu of making a particular purchase, the board may request the Purchasing and Property Division of the Department of Administration to make such purchase.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-228; 1952 Code Section 21-228; 1942 Code Section 5343; 1932 Code Section 5369; Civ. C. '22 Section 2615; Civ. C. '12 Section 1752; Civ. C. '02 Section 1210; 1903 (23) 64; 1904 (23) 528; 1906 (24) 31; 1914 (28) 480, 567; 1915 (29) 106; 1917 (30) 306; 1918 (30) 3; 1919 (31) 209, 212, 653; 1920 (31) 837; 1921 (32) 93; 1922 (32) 768, 784; 1926 (34) 1017; 1927 (35) 244, 259; 1928 (35) 1197; 1930 (36) 1307, 1518, 1960; 1933 (38) 493; 1937 (40) 235, 579; 1964 (53) 1883; 1965 (54) 274.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 19 - School Trustees › Section 59-19-93. Adoption of procurement code by school district; suspension of distribution of funds for noncompliance.

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.
HISTORY: 1984 Act No. 512, Part II, Section 9, Division V, Section 6.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 19 - School Trustees › Section 59-19-95. Implementation of student promotion policy.

The governing body of every school district of this State shall implement a student promotion policy which at least meets the minimum criteria established by the State Board of Education under Section 59-5-65 of the 1976 Code.
HISTORY: 1984 Act No. 512, Part II, Section 9, Division II, Subdivision B, SubPart 2.