reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 25 - Teachers › Section 59-25-770. Powers and duties of court of common pleas; warrant for production of witnesses.

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.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-387; 1952 Code Section 21-387; 1947 (45) 110.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 25 - Teachers › Section 59-25-780. Hearing; decision.

The hearing before the county board shall be open to the public and shall be stenographically reported, and the county board may contract for the reporting of such hearing. The county board shall hear the parties at issue and their attorneys, if any, and shall determine the matter in a summary manner setting forth its findings and conclusions in writing. If it shall find that such teacher shall have been discriminated against, it shall require the board of trustees to discontinue such discrimination. The county board shall give notice by registered mail to both parties of its decision.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-388; 1952 Code Section 21-388; 1947 (45) 110.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 25 - Teachers › Section 59-25-790. Basis of decision.

The county board, in passing upon such matters, is hereby vested with full discretion to the same extent as if the duty of fixing salaries of teachers had been originally imposed upon the county board and shall have the right to take into consideration changed conditions arising since the issuance of the certificates held by the teachers involved and other facts that will be helpful in rendering a just decision.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-389; 1952 Code Section 21-389; 1947 (45) 110.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 25 - Teachers › Section 59-25-800. Reclassification of all teachers in district.

The county board may, in determining whether or not a discrimination exists, recommend that the State Board of Education require all teachers in the district to be examined and recertified under the procedure then in force for the certification of teachers as to their qualifications and may thereupon require the trustees of such district to classify such teachers in accordance with such recertification for the purpose of fixing their salaries, to the end that the salaries of such teachers shall be based upon the value of the services rendered, it being found as a fact that each grade of teachers' certificates now outstanding is held by teachers of greatly varying efficiency, abilities and accomplishments. Should no appeal be taken from a decision of the county board making such recommendation, the State Board of Education shall carry out such recommendation.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-390; 1952 Code Section 21-390; 1947 (45) 110.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 25 - Teachers › Section 59-25-810. Appeal to State Board of Education.

Within thirty days after the receipt of any such notice of such decision of the county board, any party thereto shall have the right to appeal to the State Board of Education by filing a notice of appeal, stating the grounds thereof, with the county board of education. Upon such appeal being filed, the county board, within thirty days thereafter, shall file a full and complete certified transcript of the proceedings had before it with the State Board of Education. Upon receipt of such appeal, the State Board of Education shall fix a time and place for the hearing thereof and give notice, by registered mail, to the parties involved. Such appeal shall be heard upon the transcript of the proceedings from the county board and such other investigation and additional testimony as the State Board may elect to take, all of which, if taken, shall be reported and made a part of the record. The State Board of Education shall review all questions of law and fact and, in determining the matter, exercise its discretion as an original duty imposed upon it. All powers and remedies herein conferred on county boards as to subpoenaing witnesses, enforcing attendance, taking and production of evidence and other procedural matters are hereby conferred upon the State Board.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-391; 1952 Code Section 21-391; 1947 (45) 110.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 25 - Teachers › Section 59-25-820. Reclassification on order of State Board of Education.

The State Board of Education, upon its own initiative, in the accomplishment of justice in the matter, may require all teachers in the district from which the appeal came to be examined and recertified under the procedure then in force for the certification of teachers as to their qualifications and shall thereupon require the trustees of such district to classify such teachers in accordance with such recertification for the purpose of fixing their salaries, to the end that the salaries of such teachers shall be based upon the value of services rendered.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-392; 1952 Code Section 21-392; 1947 (45) 110.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 25 - Teachers › Section 59-25-830. Finality of findings of fact by State Board of Education; appeal on errors of law.

The findings of fact by the State Board of Education are final and conclusive as to all parties, but any party, within thirty days, may appeal to the Administrative Law Court as provided in Section 1-23-380(B) and Section 1-23-600(D), to review error of law only, by filing with the State Board of Education and the Administrative Law Court notice of the appeal and of the grounds for the appeal. The state board shall file a certified copy of the record with the Administrative Law Court in accordance with its rules of procedure. A party may have judicial review of the decision of the administrative law judge as provided by law.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-393; 1952 Code Section 21-393; 1947 (45) 110; 1999 Act No. 55, Section 55; 2006 Act No. 387, Section 44, eff July 1, 2006.
Editor's Note
2006 Act No. 387, Section 53, provides as follows:
"This act is intended to provide a uniform procedure for contested cases and appeals from administrative agencies and to the extent that a provision of this act conflicts with an existing statute or regulation, the provisions of this act are controlling."
2006 Act No. 387, Section 57, provides as follows:
"This act takes effect on July 1, 2006, and applies to any actions pending on or after the effective date of the act. No pending or vested right, civil action, special proceeding, or appeal of a final administrative decision exists under the former law as of the effective date of this act, except for appeals of Department of Health and Environmental Control Ocean and Coastal Resource Management and Environmental Quality Control permits that are before the Administrative Law Court on the effective date of this act and petitions for judicial review that are pending before the circuit court. For those actions only, the department shall hear appeals from the administrative law judges and the circuit court shall hear pending petitions for judicial review in accordance with the former law. Thereafter, any appeal of those actions shall proceed as provided in this act for review. For all other actions pending on the effective date of this act, the action proceeds as provided in this act for review."
Effect of Amendment
The 2006 amendment rewrote this section to provide for appeals to the Administrative Law Court and judicial review of the administrative law judge's decision.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 25 - Teachers › Section 59-25-840. Filing of unappealed decision; enforcement.

Any decision of either the county board or the State Board which shall become final by reason of no appeal being taken therefrom as herein provided shall be filed in the office of the clerk of court of the county in which the complaint arose within ten days after such decision becomes final by the board rendering the decision. Any party thereto shall have the right to apply to the circuit court of such county for the enforcement of such decision and the court shall enforce such decision in the same manner as judgments of such court are enforced.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-394; 1952 Code Section 21-394; 1947 (45) 110.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 25 - Teachers › Section 59-25-850. Compensation received prior to filing of complaint not affected.

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.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-395; 1952 Code Section 21-395; 1947 (45) 110.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 25 - Teachers › Section 59-25-860. Costs; fees of clerks of boards.

Costs shall be taxed in the proceedings authorized hereunder by the respective boards in accordance with the procedure and limitations applicable to taxing costs in a civil action at law in the court of common pleas. The clerk of each board shall be allowed the same fees as clerks of court of the county in which the proceedings arose, and any other fees or costs allowed by law in the court of common pleas in actions at law, and which are taxable as costs, shall apply in the proceedings before the boards and be taxable as costs. The costs so taxed of both parties shall be paid by the State Board of Education.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-396; 1952 Code Section 21-396; 1947 (45) 110.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 26 - Training, Certification And Evaluation Of Public Educators › Section 59-26-10. Intent; guidelines for implementation.

It is the intent of this chapter to provide for a fair, cohesive, and comprehensive system for the training, certification, initial employment, evaluation, and continuous professional development of public educators in this State. The following guidelines, which further constitute the intent of this chapter must be adhered to by all state and local officials, agencies, and boards in interpreting and implementing the provisions of this chapter so that the system provided for herein shall:
(a) upgrade the standards for educators in this State in a fair, professional, and reasonable manner;
(b) assure that prospective teachers have basic reading, mathematics, and writing skills;
(c) improve the educator training programs and the evaluation procedures for those programs;
(d) assure that prospective teachers know and understand their teaching areas and are given assistance toward the achievement of their potential;
(e) assure that school districts implement a comprehensive system for assisting, developing, and evaluating teachers employed at all contract levels.
HISTORY: 1979 Act No. 187 Section 1; 1997 Act No. 72, Section 1.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 26 - Training, Certification And Evaluation Of Public Educators › Section 59-26-35. South Carolina Educator Preparation Report Card.

(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.
HISTORY: 2022 Act No. 185 (H.3591), Section 1, eff May 16, 2022.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 26 - Training, Certification And Evaluation Of Public Educators › Section 59-26-45. Retired educator teaching certificates.

(A) A retired educator certificate is a renewable certificate established in regulation by the State Board of Education that allows a retired South Carolina educator to be eligible to maintain certification for the purpose of substituting. A person is initially eligible for a South Carolina retired educator certificate if he:
(1) held a valid South Carolina renewable, professional educator certificate at the time of retirement;
(2) is either a:
(i) retired member of the South Carolina Retirement System; or
(ii) current or former participant in the State Optional Retirement Program who would have met the eligibility requirements for retirement under the South Carolina Retirement System had he participated in that system rather than the State Optional Retirement Program;
(3) does not hold another valid South Carolina educator certificate and has never held a valid South Carolina educator certificate that has been suspended, revoked, or voluntarily surrendered; and
(4) meets all other qualifications to serve as a substitute educator as specified in state statute, regulation, and guidelines.
(B) An individual meeting the eligibility requirements and desirous of a certificate, including a renewal certificate, must submit the request in the manner specified in regulation and guidelines.
(1) A retired educator certificate approved and issued is valid for five years from the date of each issuance.
(2) A certificate may be renewed and, if approved, is valid for five years from the date of each issuance.
(3) Department guidelines shall include the timeline, forms, and a process for submitting and approving or denying certificate or renewal requests. (4) Renewal of a retired educator certificate does not require completion of professional learning or renewal credit.
(4) Renewal of a retired educator certificate does not require completion of professional learning or renewal credit.
(C) Any new or renewed certificate is invalidated upon issuance of any other South Carolina educator certificate.
(D) An educator who works under the retired certificate must work under the agreement and rate of pay established for this purpose by the hiring district. Section 59-25-150 shall apply to any retired educator certificate.
(E) Nothing in this section exempts an educator from taking part in professional development that is required by a local school district.
(F) The State Board of Education shall develop regulations for, and the department shall establish guidelines and procedures for, the implementation of this section.
HISTORY: 2018 Act No. 145 (H.3513), Section 1, eff April 4, 2018.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 26 - Training, Certification And Evaluation Of Public Educators › Section 59-26-70. Adjustments in instructional time permitted; foreign language requirements for diploma.

The State Board of Education, through the State Department of Education, in order to offer students more instructional time in a particular basic skill, may allow adjustments in the amount of instructional time required in each of the subjects in the State's defined minimum program. No commission or agency of the State shall require any public high school in this State to require foreign language as a prerequisite to receiving a regular high school diploma.
HISTORY: 1984 Act No. 512, Part II, Section 9, Division II, Subdivision B, SubPart 3, Section 4.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 26 - Training, Certification And Evaluation Of Public Educators › Section 59-26-90. Teacher of the year honorarium programs.

The State Department of Education shall establish a program for the State Teacher of the Year to include an honorarium of no less than twenty-five thousand dollars. In addition, the program is to recognize the four honor roll teachers of the year with awards of no less than ten thousand dollars each and award local district teachers of the year with honoraria of no less than one thousand dollars each.
HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 393, Section 13.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 26 - Training, Certification And Evaluation Of Public Educators › Section 59-26-100. Incentives for teachers serving as mentors.

The State Board of Education, acting through the Department of Education, shall establish a program whereby schools and school districts may be awarded funds to develop various types of incentives for those teachers who are trained and serve as mentors to new teachers as a part of the induction program established in Section 59-26-20. Among the incentives that may qualify are additional pay, release time, and additional assistance in the classroom. To qualify for these funds, the school or school district must meet the criteria established by the state board.
HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 393, Section 14.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 26 - Training, Certification And Evaluation Of Public Educators › Section 59-26-110. Youth suicide prevention teacher training.

(A) Beginning with the 2013-2014 school year, the Department of Education shall require two hours of training in youth suicide awareness and prevention as a requirement for the renewal of credentials of individuals employed in a middle school or high school as defined in Section 59-1-150. The required training shall count toward the one hundred twenty renewal credits specified in Department of Education regulations for renewal of credentials.
(B)(1) The department shall develop guidelines suitable for training and materials that may be used by schools and districts; however districts may approve materials to be used in providing training for employees.
(2) The training required in this section may be accomplished through self-review of suicide prevention materials that meet guidelines developed by the Department of Education.
(C) No person shall have a cause of action for any loss or damage caused by any act or omission resulting from the implementation of the provisions of this section or resulting from any training, or lack of training, required by this section unless the loss or damage was caused by wilful or wanton misconduct. The training, or lack of training, required by the provisions of this section must not be construed to impose any specific duty of care.
HISTORY: 2012 Act No. 170, Section 2, eff May 14, 2012.
Editor's Note
2012 Act No. 170, Section 1, provides as follows:
"This act may be cited as the 'Jason Flatt Act'."
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 26 - Training, Certification And Evaluation Of Public Educators › Section 59-26-120. Program graduates data.

(A) The State Department of Education annually before December first shall provide each college of education and state-approved educator preparation program with information regarding its graduates. Information must be provided to a college of education or educator preparation program regarding each of its individual educator graduates and must include, but is not limited to:
(1) linking teacher candidates from each program with valid, reliable, nationally normed performance assessments that are data and evidence based and can assess teaching effectiveness;
(2) results of ADEPT Evaluation by individual educator graduate;
(3) records of employee certification by individual educator graduate; and
(4) other information requested by the programs designed to enhance the ability of the college of education or educator preparation program to provide improved education services.
(B) A college of education or educator preparation program receiving individualized information regarding its graduates pursuant to subsection (A) shall:
(1) develop and use a unique system for identifying each individual educator graduate for whom it receives such individualized information;
(2) strictly maintain the confidentiality of all information that can be used to identify an individual educator graduate for whom it receives such information; and
(3) not share such information with a third party without the express written consent of the educator.
(C) Information provided to a college of education or educator preparation program pursuant to this section is not subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.
HISTORY: 2022 Act No. 185 (H.3591), Section 2, eff May 16, 2022.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 27 - Interstate Agreement On Qualification › Section 59-27-20. Designated State official.

The "designated State official" for this State shall be the State Superintendent of Education. He shall enter into contracts pursuant to Article 3 of the agreement only with the approval of the specific text thereof by the State Board of Education.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-400.1; 1973 (58) 397.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 27 - Interstate Agreement On Qualification › Section 59-27-30. Copies of contract required to be on file.

True copies of all contracts made on behalf of this State pursuant to the agreement shall be kept on file in the office of the State Superintendent of Education and in the office of the Secretary of State.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-400.2; 1973 (58) 397.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 28 - Parental Involvement In Their Children's Education › Section 59-28-110. Purpose.

It is the purpose of the General Assembly in this chapter to:
(1) heighten awareness of the importance of parents' involvement in the education of their children throughout their schooling;
(2) encourage the establishment and maintenance of parent-friendly school settings; and
(3) emphasize that when parents and schools work as partners, a child's academic success can best be assured.
HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 402, Section 1.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 28 - Parental Involvement In Their Children's Education › Section 59-28-120. State agency involvement.

The Governor shall require state agencies that serve families and children to collaborate and establish networks with schools to heighten awareness of the importance of parental influence on the academic success of their children and to encourage and assist parents to become more involved in their children's education.
HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 402, Section 1.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 28 - Parental Involvement In Their Children's Education › Section 59-28-130. Parental involvement plans; recognition of improvement; establishing criteria for staff training.

The State Board of Education shall:
(1) require school and district long-range improvement plans required in Section 59-139-10 to include parental involvement goals, objectives, and an evaluation component;
(2) recognize districts and schools where parental involvement significantly increases beyond stated goals and objectives; and
(3) establish criteria for staff training on school initiatives and activities shown by research to increase parental involvement in their children's education.
HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 402, Section 1.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 28 - Parental Involvement In Their Children's Education › Section 59-28-140. Design of parental involvement and best practices training programs; incorporation into teacher and principal preparation programs.

The State Superintendent of Education shall:
(1) design parental involvement and best practices training programs in conjunction with higher education institutions and the pre-K through grade 12 education community, including parental program coordinators, which shall include:
(a) practices that are responsive to racial, ethnic, and socio-economic diversity, and are appropriate to various grade-level needs;
(b) establishment and maintenance of parent-friendly school settings;
(c) awareness of community resources that strengthen families and assist students to succeed; and
(d) other topics appropriate for fostering partnerships between parent and teacher;
(2) work collaboratively with the Commission on Higher Education to incorporate parental involvement training into teacher preparation and principal preparation programs consistent with the training provided in item (1) of this section.
HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 402, Section 1.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 28 - Parental Involvement In Their Children's Education › Section 59-28-150. State Superintendent of Education activities to promote parental involvement.

The State Superintendent of Education shall:
(1) promote parental involvement as a priority for all levels from pre-K through grade 12, with particular emphasis at the middle and high school levels where parental involvement is currently least visible;
(2) designate a Department of Education staff position whose specific role is to coordinate statewide initiatives to support school and district parental involvement;
(3) collect and disseminate to districts and schools practices shown by research to be effective in increasing parental involvement at all grade levels;
(4) provide parental involvement staff development training for district and school liaisons, as needed;
(5) provide technical assistance relating to parental involvement training to districts and schools;
(6) sponsor statewide conferences on best practices;
(7) identify, recommend, and implement ways to integrate programs and funding for maximum benefit to enhance parental involvement;
(8) enroll the Department of Education as a state member of national organizations which promote proven parental involvement frameworks, models, and practices and provide related services to state and local members;
(9) promote and encourage local school districts to join national parental involvement organizations; and
(10) monitor and evaluate parental involvement programs statewide by designing a statewide system which will determine program effectiveness and identify best practices and report evaluation findings and implications to the General Assembly, State Board of Education, and Education Oversight Committee.
HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 402, Section 1.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 28 - Parental Involvement In Their Children's Education › Section 59-28-160. Local school board of trustees activities.

Each local school board of trustees shall:
(1) consider joining national organizations which promote and provide technical assistance on various proven parental involvement frameworks and models;
(2) incorporate, where possible, proven parental involvement practices into existing policies and efforts;
(3) adopt policies that emphasize the importance, strive to increase and clearly define expectations for effective parental involvement practices in the district schools;
(4) provide for all faculty and staff, no later than the 2002-2003 school year, parental involvement orientation and training through staff development with an emphasis on unique school and district needs and after that, on an ongoing basis as indicated by results of evaluations of district and school parental involvement practices and as required by the State Board of Education;
(5) provide incentives and formal recognition for schools that significantly increase parental involvement as defined by the State Board of Education;
(6) require an annual briefing on district and school parental involvement programs including findings from state and local evaluations on the success of the district and schools' efforts; and
(7) include parental involvement expectations as part of the superintendent's evaluation.
HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 402, Section 1.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 28 - Parental Involvement In Their Children's Education › Section 59-28-170. School district superintendent activities.

(A) Each school district superintendent shall consider:
(1) designating staff to serve as a parent liaison for the district to coordinate parental involvement initiatives and coordinate community and agency collaboration to support parents and families;
(2) requiring each school to designate a faculty contact for parental involvement efforts to work collaboratively with the district coordinator and network with other school faculty contacts;
(3) requiring each school principal to designate space within the school specifically for parents which contains materials and resources on the numerous ways parents and schools can and should partner for a child's academic success; and
(4) encouraging principals to adjust class and school schedules to accommodate parent-teacher conferences at times more convenient to parents and, to the extent possible, accommodate parents in cases where transportation and normal school hours present a hardship.
(B) Each school district superintendent shall:
(1) include parental involvement expectations as part of each principal's evaluation;
(2) include information about parental involvement opportunities and participation in the district's annual report; and
(3) disseminate to all parents of the district the expectations enumerated in Section 59-28-180.
HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 402, Section 1.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 28 - Parental Involvement In Their Children's Education › Section 59-28-180. Parent expectations.

Parent involvement influences student learning and academic performance; therefore, parents are expected to:
(1) uphold high expectations for academic achievement;
(2) expect and communicate expectations for success;
(3) recognize that parental involvement in middle and high school is equally as critical as in elementary school;
(4) ensure attendance and punctuality;
(5) attend parent-teacher conferences;
(6) monitor and check homework;
(7) communicate with the school and teachers;
(8) build partnerships with teachers to promote successful school experiences;
(9) attend, when possible, school events;
(10) model desirable behaviors;
(11) use encouraging words;
(12) stimulate thought and curiosity; and
(13) show support for school expectations and efforts to increase student learning.
HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 402, Section 1.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 28 - Parental Involvement In Their Children's Education › Section 59-28-190. Education Oversight Committee survey; public awareness campaign.

The Education Oversight Committee shall survey parents to determine if state and local efforts are effective in increasing parental involvement. This information shall be used in the public awareness campaign required by the Education Accountability Act to promote the importance of parental involvement. The campaign shall include:
(1) advice for parents on how to help their children be successful in school and the importance of nurturing their children's skills and abilities;
(2) requests to employers, state agencies, entities, community groups, nonprofit organizations, and faith communities that work with children and families to distribute and display parent advice and other pertinent parent information;
(3) promotion of the benefits of increased productivity, loyalty, and sense of community which result from parent-friendly workplace policies;
(4) ideas and encouragement to employers to adopt parent-friendly workplace policies and to provide information on the importance of parents to a child's academic success;
(5) recognition of businesses and employers where parent-friendly policies have been adopted; and
(6) recognition of agencies and faith communities that have supported and increased parental involvement.
HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 402, Section 1.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 28 - Parental Involvement In Their Children's Education › Section 59-28-200. Development of informational materials.

The Education Oversight Committee and the State Superintendent of Education shall develop and publish jointly informational materials for distribution to all public school parents and to teachers. The informational materials for distribution shall include:
(1) an explanation of the grade-level academic content standards and advice on how parents can help their children achieve the standards and the relationship of the standards to the state assessments; and
(2) printed information about the standards and advice relative to parental involvement in their children's education for visible display and use in every public school K-12 classroom.
HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 402, Section 1; 2006 Act No. 254, Section 9, eff March 24, 2006.
Effect of Amendment
The 2006 amendment, at the end of item (1), substituted "state assessments" for "Palmetto Achievement Challenge Tests (PACT)".
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 28 - Parental Involvement In Their Children's Education › Section 59-28-220. Development of employer tax credit incentives for paid parent-employee release time.

The Education Oversight Committee, in cooperation with representatives of the Department of Commerce, the Department of Revenue, and the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, shall develop recommendations for employer tax credits as incentives to:
(1) provide parent-employee release time for parent-teacher conferences or attendance at their children's academic-related events without loss of pay; and
(2) develop workplace policies which enable parents to improve their literacy, assist their children with academics, and become more involved in their child's education as a result of employers working with local school officials.
Recommendations shall be reported to the Senate Finance and Education Committees, House Ways and Means Committee, and the House Education and Public Works Committee no later than January 1, 2001.
HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 402, Section 1.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 29 - Subjects Of Instruction › Section 59-29-10. Required subjects.

The county board of education and the board of trustees for each school district shall see that in every school under their care there shall be taught, as far as practicable, orthography, reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, English grammar and instruction in phonics, the elements of agriculture, the history of the United States and of this State, the principles of the Constitutions of the United States and of this State, morals and good behavior, algebra, physiology and hygiene (especially as to the effects of alcoholic liquors and narcotics upon the human system), English literature, and such other branches as the state board may from time to time direct.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-411; 1952 Code Section 21-411; 1942 Code Section 5321; 1932 Code Section 5338; Civ. C. '22 Section 2589; Civ. C. '12 Section 1731; Civ. C. '02 Section 1201; 1896 (22) 161; 1942 (42) 1453; 1998 Act No. 400, Section 11.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 29 - Subjects Of Instruction › Section 59-29-15. Teaching cursive writing and multiplication tables required.

(A) In addition to the requirements that writing and arithmetic be subjects of instruction in each school district pursuant to Section 59-29-10, each school district shall:
(1) provide instruction in cursive writing to ensure that students can create readable documents through legible cursive handwriting by the end of fifth grade; and
(2) require students to memorize multiplication tables to ensure that students can effectively multiply numbers by the end of fifth grade.
(B) The State Department of Education shall assist the school districts in identifying the most appropriate means for integrating this requirement into their existing curriculums. Additionally, the department, using procedures followed for other textbook adoptions, shall review and recommend cursive writing instructional materials for inclusion on the approved state textbook adoption list. Schools may select these materials in the same manner that other textbooks are selected from the list.
HISTORY: 2014 Act No. 275 (H.3905), Section 2, eff June 9, 2014.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 29 - Subjects Of Instruction › Section 59-29-20. Required subjects; nature and effect of alcoholic drinks and narcotics.

The nature of alcoholic drinks and narcotics and special instruction as to their effect upon the human system shall be taught in all the grammar and high schools of this State which receive any State aid whatsoever and shall be studied and taught as thoroughly and in the same manner as all other required branches in such schools, as may be required by the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education shall provide for the enforcement of the provisions of this section.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-412; 1952 Code Section 21-412; 1942 Code Section 5323; 1941 (42) 263.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 29 - Subjects Of Instruction › Section 59-29-30. Required subjects; Alcohol and Narcotics Education Week.

Each public school of the State shall designate one week during the school year for the observance of Alcohol and Narcotics Education Week. During this week, each district board of trustees shall require the school principal or other designated person to have each class from the sixth grade upward instructed for at least thirty minutes on three days concerning the risks and dangers involved in the use of alcoholic beverages and narcotics. The principal, or such other designated person, shall also have at least one assembly session during the week of not less than forty-five minutes, at which time the subject of the dangerous effect of alcohol and narcotics shall be presented.
The district board of trustees shall each year inform the State Board of Education of the week each public school in its district has designated as Alcohol and Narcotics Education Week, and the State Board of Education shall, through the Department of Education, provide suitable printed materials and other aids for use in the observance of the week.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-412.1; 1960 (51) 1671; 1966 (54) 2390; 1973 (58) 651.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 29 - Subjects Of Instruction › Section 59-29-35. Home school awareness week; admission opportunities.

To recognize the many families in South Carolina who educate their children at home as provided by law, each year the first full week in October is designated and shall be recognized as "South Carolina Home School Awareness Week". During "South Carolina Home School Awareness Week", all home school students in this State and their parents or guardians who serve as their children's teacher shall be provided the same admission opportunities to any educational facilities owned by or under the control of this State or any state agency, department, or institution as are provided to public or private school students and their teachers. In addition during Home School Awareness Week, educational facilities, not including public school facilities, owned or under the control of a local political subdivision or entity also shall provide the same admission opportunities as are provided to public or private school students and their teachers.
Only during Home School Awareness Week shall these affected educational facilities provide the same special admission opportunities to home schooled students and their parents or guardians who serve as the students' teachers as they do to public or private school students and their teachers.
HISTORY: 2002 Act No. 276, Section 1.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 29 - Subjects Of Instruction › Section 59-29-40. Required subjects; films depicting nature of alcoholic drinks and narcotics; special instruction as to their effect.

Films depicting the nature of alcoholic drinks and narcotics and special instructions as to their effect upon the human system shall be taught in all the junior high and high schools of this State and shall be studied and taught as thoroughly and in the same manner as all other required branches in such schools, as may be required by the State Board of Education. Such films shall be presented at orientation programs of all State-supported institutions of higher learning. The South Carolina Television Center shall make available to such schools and institutions television programs and films with commentary relative to such subject matter and the school shall require each student enrolled therein to view such program or film. The State Board of Education or the college or university officials, as the case may be, shall provide for the enforcement of the provisions of this section.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-412.2; 1969 (56) 702.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 29 - Subjects Of Instruction › Section 59-29-50. Required subjects; traffic laws.

The State Department of Education and the trustees of the State institutions of higher learning shall establish and require to be taught in the respective schools under their control a course of instruction on the traffic laws of this State. Such course of instruction shall be by lectures.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-413; 1952 Code Section 21-413; 1942 Code Section 5326; 1934 (38) 1363.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 29 - Subjects Of Instruction › Section 59-29-55. Instruction on Black history.

The State Board of Education shall examine the current status of the teaching of South Carolina History. By the 1989-1990 school year, each public school of the State must instruct students in the history of the black people as a regular part of its history and social studies courses. The State Board of Education shall establish regulations for the adoption of history and social studies textbooks which incorporate black history and shall, through the State Department of Education, assist the school districts in developing and locating suitable printed materials and other aids for instruction in black history. The State Board of Education shall examine curricular material for grades 1-6 to determine the level of emphasis on the relationship of agriculture and other industries to the South Carolina economy.
HISTORY: 1984 Act No. 512, Part II, Section 9, Division II, Subdivision A, SubPart 1, Section 5.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 29 - Subjects Of Instruction › Section 59-29-60. Required subjects; program of safety instruction.

A definite program of safety instruction shall be included in the curriculum and provided in each primary and elementary grade in the public schools of the State.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-414; 1952 Code Section 21-414; 1942 Code Section 5327; 1939 (41) 131.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 59 - Education › Chapter 29 - Subjects Of Instruction › Section 59-29-70. Required subjects; instruction in fire prevention.

The State Board of Education shall provide for instruction in fire prevention in the elementary public schools of the State. Each teacher in a public school of this State shall give such instruction in fire prevention as may be prescribed by the State Board.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-415; 1952 Code Section 21-415; 1942 Code Section 5464; 1932 Code Section 5470; 1923 (33) 44.