South Carolina Code of Regulations › Chapter 43 - STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION › Article 23 - EDUCATIONAL AGENCY RELATIONS › Section 43-303 - Flexibility Through Deregulation Program

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 6, June 28, 2024
I. Program Implementation
The Education Accountability Act, S.C. Code Ann. Sections
				59-8-1110 and
				59-18-1120
				(2002), provide for the recognition of schools based on student performance.
				Schools that continually receive recognition are rewarded by exemptions from
				regulations and statutes (59-18-1110 ). Special provisions also allow
				exemptions from some regulations or statutes to other schools (59-18-1120
				).
The State Department of Education (SDE) will operate the
				program in accordance with program guidelines developed by the State Board of
				Education (SBE) in consultation with the Education Oversight Committee (EOC).
				The guidelines shall include eligibility criteria, operation procedures,
				related monitoring activities, reporting requirements, and state statutes and
				regulations exempted under the program. Approved program guidelines will be
				made available by the SDE upon request. The SBE may revise program guidelines
				on an annual basis in consultation with the EOC. Current guidelines will be
				posted on the SDE Web site.
Schools deregulated under former flexibility through
				deregulation statute, S.C. Code Ann. Section 59-18-15 (repealed), and former
				State Board of Education Regulation Regulation 43-303 (amended) must re-qualify
				for flexibility status under these regulations.
II. Eligibility Criteria
A. Eligibility for flexibility begins in
			 February 2005.
B. A school may be
			 eligible in one of three ways. Special conditions apply to each type of
			 eligibility.
1. Criteria for Deregulated
			 Schools
Each of the following criteria must be met during the
				three-year period prior to the school year in which the school is given
				flexibility status.
a. The school has
			 twice been a recipient of either a Palmetto Gold or Silver Award.
b. The school has met annual improvement
			 standards for subgroups of students in reading and mathematics.
c. The school must have exhibited no
			 recurring accreditation deficiencies.
2. Criteria for Unsatisfactory Schools
An unsatisfactory school may be given flexibility status when
				each of the following conditions are met:
a. The statutes or regulations exempted must
			 deal with the core academic areas.
b. The External Review Team (ERT) recommends
			 specific regulations and statutes for flexibility to the SBE in the ERT
			 report.
c. If recommended by the
			 ERT, the school plan must be amended to explain how the exemption will improve
			 school and student performance.
3. Criteria for Schools through School Plans
Schools may receive flexibility status when each of the
				following conditions are met:
a. The
			 school has met annual improvement standards for subgroups of students in
			 reading and mathematics.
b.
			 Amendments to the school renewal plan must explain why exemptions are expected
			 to improve the academic performance of the students.
c. The plan meets the approval by the
			 SBE.