H 3196: Educator Assistance Act

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "EDUCATOR ASSISTANCE ACT" BY ADDING SECTION 59-101-145 SO AS TO AUTHORIZE THE USE OF DATA BEING COLLECTED UNDER CURRENT PROCEDURES TO REPORT ON CERTAIN POSTSECONDARY MATTERS CONCERNING GRADUATES OF SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND TO REQUIRE THE STREAMLINING OF DATA COLLECTION TIMELINES AND PROCESSES; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-25-47, RELATING TO POLICIES AUTHORIZING PAYMENTS FOR UNUSED TEACHER LEAVE, SO AS TO REQUIRE ADDITIONAL POLICIES THAT ALLOW TEACHERS TO DONATE SUCH UNUSED LEAVE TO A LEAVE BANK FOR OTHER EMPLOYEES, AND TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE POLICIES; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-25-410, RELATING TO ANNUAL NOTIFICATION OF SCHOOL TEACHER EMPLOYMENT AND ASSIGNMENTS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THE NOTIFICATION MUST INCLUDE CERTAIN SALARY INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS IN THE REQUIRED NOTICE, TO PROVIDE NOTICE OF TENTATIVE TEACHER ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE PROVIDED NO LATER THAN FOURTEEN CALENDAR DAYS BEFORE THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, AND TO PROHIBIT LIMITATIONS ON TEACHER REASSIGNMENTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-1-425, RELATING TO REQUIRED DAYS FOR COLLEGIAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE ANNUAL SCHOOL CALENDAR, SO AS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DAYS TO FOUR, TO PROVIDE DISTRICTS MUST VERIFY COMPLETING OF THE REQUIRED COLLEGIAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN A CERTAIN MANNER, TO PROVIDE TEACHERS AND INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTS MUST BE PROVIDED SELF-DIRECTED FREE TIME TO EVALUATE STUDENT ACADEMIC DATA, INSTRUCTIONAL PLANNING, AND CLASSROOM PREPARATION, AND TO REMOVE A TWO-DAY MAXIMUM LIMITATION ON USE OF THESE COLLEGIAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAYS FOR THE PREPARATION AND OPENING OF SCHOOLS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-25-160, RELATING TO ACTIONS CONSTITUTING JUST CAUSE GROUNDS FOR TEACHER CERTIFICATE REVOCATION OR SUSPENSION PURPOSES, SO AS TO INCLUDE BREACH OF CONTRACT; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-25-530, RELATING TO UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND BREACH OF CONTRACT BY TEACHERS, SO AS TO RECHARACTERIZE CERTAIN ACTIONS AS BEING BREACH OF CONTRACT INSTEAD OF UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT, TO REVISE THE PENALTIES AND CONSEQUENCES FOR SUCH BREACHES OF CONTRACT, AND TO PROVIDE AN EXEMPTION FROM BREACH OF CONTRACT FINDINGS FOR TEACHERS WHO MOVE TO BONA FIDE RESIDENCES IN NONCONTIGUOUS COUNTIES DURING THE CONTRACT TERM, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-26-40, RELATING TO CONTINUING CONTRACT STATUS FOR TEACHERS, SO AS TO REQUIRE COMPLETION OF COLLEGIAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND TO PROVIDE EMPLOYING DISTRICTS SHALL AWARD CREDITS FOR PROFESSIONAL TEACHING CERTIFICATE RENEWAL TO CONTINUING CONTRACT TEACHERS WHO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE SUCH COLLEGIAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-26-45, RELATING TO RETIRED EDUCATOR TEACHING CERTIFICATES, SO AS TO MAKE SUCH CERTIFICATES LIFETIME IN DURATION INSTEAD OF RENEWABLE, TO PROVIDE SUCH TEACHERS MAY TEACH ON A FULL-TIME BASIS OR PART-TIME BASIS, AND TO EXEMPT SUCH TEACHERS FROM CERTIFICATE RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-101-130 RELATING TO HIGH SCHOOLS REPORTING TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION, AND INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING REPORTING TO HIGH SCHOOLS; AND BY REPEALING SECTION 59-101-140 RELATING TO TABULATION OF REPORTS. - RATIFIED TITLE

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 10 · Republican 35

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. May 12, 2025Act No. 12
2. May 12, 2025Effective date See Act for Effective Date
3. May 7, 2025Signed By Governor
4. May 6, 2025Ratified R 41
5. April 30, 2025Roll call Yeas-116 Nays-0
6. April 30, 2025Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled
7. April 24, 2025Read third time and returned to House with amendments
8. April 22, 2025Scrivener's error corrected
9. April 16, 2025Roll call Ayes-39 Nays-0
10. April 16, 2025Read second time
11. April 16, 2025Committee Amendment Adopted
12. April 10, 2025Committee report: Favorable with amendment Education

Showing 12 most recent of 32 actions. Full history