Legislative
Update from Columbia
State Legislation
Legislative Update for the Week of May 30, 2005
A free conference report for Senate Bill 618 (Retirement) was adopted by
the House and Senate. The bill now waits the Governor’s signature. The
bill has the following provisions:
- Current TERI
Members and those retirees who return to work will begin July 1, 2005
paying 6.25% to the retirement system. Their contribution will increase
to 6.5% beginning July 1, 2006.
- The $50,000
earnings limitation cap for retirees has been removed.
- Beginning on the
date the bill is signed by the Governor, future TERI members will only
have one annual leave buy-out at the end of employment.
- The one-day break
in service remains for TERI members. Returning retirees must have 15
days break in service. This is down from 60 days break in service.
- Returning retirees
are now eligible for the one year Salary Group Life Insurance benefit.
- Current as well as
new TERI members in the public educational system will continue to have
grievance rights.
- TERI employees in
the public schools will be issued a contract.
- At least a 1% cost
of living increase is guaranteed each year unless the consumer price
index fails below 1%.
- Employer
contribution for returning employees will be 8.05%, which is up form 7%,
beginning July 1, 2006. Beginning July 1, 2007, the contribution for
employers will be 8.55%.
Legislative Update for
the Week of May 23, 2005
Senate Bill 618 (Retirement)’s
conference committee fail to reach an agreement this week. The bill if
passed and signed by the Governor would guarantee cost of living increases
this July and would lift the cap of $50,000 in earning limitations for
retired employees.
The House and the
Senate did override Veto 1 (State Testing Program). This override allowed
$1,000,559 to be spent on PACT testing. The rest of the education budget
remained in tact.
Legislative Update for
the Week of May 16, 2005
Senate Bill 618 (Retirement System) with approved Ways and Means
Committee’s amendments was adopted by the House. The bill waits conference
committee assignments this week.
House Bill 3010
(State Wide Charter School District) was approved by the Senate Education
Committee with amendments. The bill establishes a statewide charter school
district that would allow charter school applicants to submit their
applications directly to the State Wide Charter school district as a
sponsor. Applications would continue to be reviewed by the Charter School
Review Committee for compliance. Only state and federal dollars would
follow the student.
House Bill 3155
(Education and Economic Development Act) was approved by a Conference
Committee and now waits the Governor’s signature. The bill replaces the
School-to-Work Act. The State Department of Education was allocated $6
Million to implement the new Act.
Legislative Update for
the Week of May 9, 2005
Proponents of “Put Parents in Charge” continue to try to push a voucher
bill through the House this year. Representative Dan Tripp of
Greenville asked that his “Put
Parents in Charge Bill” (H.4054) be recalled from the House Ways and Means
Committee and placed on the House Calendar. His motion was objected to and
it failed. It is apparent that proponents of this legislation will try
this tactic each day. Please inform your House member to object to all
motions to recall Put Parents in Charge Bills.
The House Ways and
Means Committee approved the following amendments to Senate Bill 618
(State Retirement System):
- TERI or rehired
retirees will have limited sick and annual leave of 15 days per year
with no payout or carryover effective July 1, 2005.
- The first annual
leave payout will be eliminated until termination of employment for TERI
participants after July 1, 2005.
- All TERI and
rehired retirees will work at-will.
- All retired
employee contribution will be paid at a rate of 6.5% by July 1, 2006.
- The break in
service time was changed from 60 days to 15 days and the earnings
limitation cap of $50,000 was removed.
- The Investment
Panel of the Retirement System would be allowed to invest up to 60% in
either fixed or equity investments. This up from 40%.
The bill has been
placed on the house calendar for discussion this week.
The House and Senate
Conference Committee on the budget approved the following significant
actions that were also approved by the full House and Senate:
- Each teacher will
receive $250 for supplies.
- Each teacher will
get a 1.6% raise in salary.
- State employees
will get a 4% raise.
- Local boards of
trustees will continue to have the right to meet its Local EFA Match and
EIA Local Effort.
- Teacher salaries
will be $300 above the southeastern average.
- The base student
cost is $2,290 per student.
Legislative Update for the Week of May 2, 2005
The House of Representatives on
May 4, 2005 voted 60-53 to table
House Bill 3652 (Put Parents in Charge Act). This action means that the
bill is dead. However, there are several similar bills waiting to be heard
in the House Ways and Means Committee. We must remain vigilant and
continue our focus on defeating all forms of this legislation. The
Association thanks all of you for your support.
Senate
Bill 100 (Teacher Salary Commission) waits in the House for discussion and
deliberation. The bill allows for the formulation of a Teacher Salary
Commission to study teacher salaries that have not been reviewed since
1948.
The Conference
Committee to discuss the Appropriation Act will meet this week in order to
iron out the differences between the House and Senate versions of the
State budget.
Legislative Update for
the Week of April 25, 2005
The Senate approved
the following significant budgetary items related to K-12 Education:
- An additional $315
million was added as compared to last year’s budget.
- The Base Student
Cost is funded at $2, 290 per student. It is the recommended funding of
the Board of Economic Advisers.
- Teacher salaries
are $300 above the southeastern average.
- Each teachers will
receive $250 for instructional supplies.
- $13 million was
restored to K-12 technology.
- $1 million was
added to a high school reading initiative.
- Local boards of
trustees may request maintenance of effort and a local match to fund
education.
House Bill 3350 (SC
School Districts Property Tax Relief Act) did not receive a third reading
in the House. If passes, the bill would allow a countywide referendum for
a special one cent sales tax to be used to defray general obligation debt
service or otherwise defray the costs of capital improvement projects. The
bill will not pass for approval this year.
House Bill 3610
(Putting Parents in Charge) did not receive a third reading in the House.
The bill promotes vouchers and tax credits. The Association opposes the
bill. The bill will not pass for approval this year.
Legislative Update for the Week of
April 18, 2005
The House Ways and Means Committee amended
and reported out favorably House Bill 3652 (Put Parents in Charge Act).
The bill would allow an eleven (11) year tuition tax credit pilot in two
(2) South Carolina School Districts to be determined by the State
Department of Education. The Department would choose one from the top
district in the state and one from the bottom. The bill was also amended
to only allow scholarship granting organizations to give up to $10,000 per
year and to hold firefighters harmless from the Act. The bill is headed to
the House floor for debate this week. Please contact your House member and
voice year disapproval of this bill.
Senate Bill 124
(Physical Education) was approved by the Senate Education Committee and
placed on the Senate Calendar. The bill requires a nurse in every
elementary school and that the student teacher ratio will be 500:1 for
physical education instruction by the 2007-2008 school year.
Senate Bill 54
(Uniform Start Date for Schools) was defeated in a Senate subcommittee for
passage this year.
The Senate debates
the State Appropriation Act the week of April 25-28, 2005.
Legislative Update for
the Week of April 11, 2005
The State Board of Education approved
the following regulation:
- 43-262
(Assessment) allows a student’s IEP Team to determine annually an
exemption from taking the high school exit exam with the following
conditions:
- The student has
failed to pass any part of the High School Assessment Program (HSAP)
during the student’s initial administration of it.
- The student has
not earned any Carnegie units in the core curriculum of mathematics,
English Language Arts, science, and social studies.
- The student has
not enrolled in a course in the core curriculum required for high
school graduation.
The State Board of
Education also approved an increase from 80 cents per mile to $1.10 per
mile for non-state funded use of SDE school buses and boats. The rate
increase will go into effect July 1, 2005.
The House approved
House Bill 3499 (Elementary PE) and it now waits approval by the Senate.
The bill requires that a nurse be funded for each elementary school and
that within three years the PE specialist to student ratio will be 500:1.
The bill furthers requires that elementary students will not have access
to vending machines to after school hours. Recess will be a minimum of 20
minutes.
Senate Bill 618
(Retirement Revisions) was approved by the Senate and waits approval by
the House. The bill has the following provisions:
- The earnings
limitation of $50,000 would be lifted.
- Individuals
entering the TERI program after June 30, 2005 will not be allowed to
return under covered employment.
- Current TERI
participants will be allowed to return back to work without any earning
limitations.
- The retirement’s
investment board will be given greater flexibility in investing 40% of
allowable funds.
House Bill 3610
(Putting Parents In Charge) was placed on the Full Ways and Means agenda
but time ran out for discussion. It is scheduled for further discussion
this week. The bill promotes vouchers and tax credits. Please call your
House member and voice your objection to this bill.
House Bill 3001
(Appointment of State Superintendent) waits approval in the Senate. The
bill eliminates the constitutional offices of the State Superintendent of
Education and the Secretary of State through a statewide referendum.
House Bill 3010
(Carolina Public Charter
School District) is currently
being debated in a Senate Education subcommittee. The bill allows State
and federal funds to follow a student. It also allows this new
Charter School District to
sponsor a charter school.
House Bill 3227 (SC
School Districts Property Tax Relief Act) was approved in a House
Judiciary subcommittee and waits approval by the full House Judiciary
Committee. The bill allows for a countywide referendum for a special one
cents sales tax to defray capital improvement costs.
Legislative Update for the Week of April 4, 2005
The Senate Finance Committee approved the
following significant provisos that will be discussed and approved by the
Senate:
- 1.57 (Flexibility)
deleted the SMART language and replaced it with the 100% flexibility of
funds.
- 1.36 (Revised
Report Card Rating) deleted the technology center requirement to include
work force needs as part of its report card.
- 1.67 (ADEPT) was
amended to allow up to three annual contract years and deletes the
provisional contract year.
- 1.78 (Local Match)
was deleted to allow a local school district to meet its EFA local fund
match.
- 1.A58 (Local
Effort) was deleted to allow a local school district to meet its EIA
local fund requirement.
The House Education
Committee approved the following State Board Regulations and bills that
now wait approval by the House:
- R. 2940
(Administrative, Professional Personnel Qualifications, Duties, and
Workloads) was amended to conform to the No Child Left Behind Act.
- R. 2941 (ADEPT)
was amended to allow up to three annual contract years and the deletion
of the provisional contract year.
- R. 2964 (Generic
Teaching Certification) was amended to allow an individual with this
certification to teach students who are learning disabled and educable
mentally disabled in a self-contained setting.
- House Bill 3499
(Student Health and Fitness Act of 2005) was amended to require a
student teacher ratio of 28:1 for physical education in each elementary
school. The bill further states that it is the goal of this State to
have a nurse in every elementary school and that vending machines shall
be removed from all elementary schools.
Legislative Update for the Week of March 28,
2005
A proviso subcommittee of the Senate Finance Committee deleted provisos that
would prohibit local boards of trustees from meeting the Education Finance
Act requirement of Maintenance of Effort and an Education Improvement Act
requirement of Local Match. The Association supports both deletions.
State Board Regulation 2941 (ADEPT)
was approved by a House subcommittee and waits approval by the full House
Education Committee. The regulation amends ADEPT to allow an additional
annual contract year and deleted the provisional contract year.
State Board Regulation 2964 (Generic
Teaching Certification) was approved by a House subcommittee and waits
approval by the full House Education Committee. The regulation allows
teachers who process a Generic Teaching Certification to teach students in a
self-contained setting if the students are classified as learning disabled
or educable mentally disabled.
Senate Bill 618 (Retirement System
Revisions) has been placed on Special Orders by the Senate which allows for
discussion and debate even if there are objections to the bill by other
Senators. The bill if passes, would not allow a person to return back to
work under earning limitation if he or she retires after June 30, 2005. The
Association is fighting hard to delete that provision of the bill. Please
notify your Senator and voice objection to that provision of the bill.
Senate Bill 13 (Teacher Protection
Act) was approved for third reading by the Senate and waits deliberation in
the House. The bill allows a teacher to press charges if assaulted by a
student.
Legislative Update for the Week of March
21, 2005
The House of
Representative was in recess and did not meet.
Senate Bill 144
(Procedures for K-12 Students to Self-Medicate) was approved by the Senate
and waits approval by the House of Representatives. The bill allows
students to self-medicate as part of an individual student’s health care
plan.
Senate Bill 533
(Guidelines to Prevent Lynching) was approved by the Senate Education
Committee and waits approval by the full Senate. The bill requires the
Department of Education to develop information regarding lynching to be
shared with schools. Instruction regarding lynching will be required to be
taught the first week of school.
House Bill 3020
(Financial Literacy Act of 2005) was approved by the Senate Education
Committee and waits approval by the full Senate. The bill requires the
State Board of Education to develop guidelines in offering financial
literacy in each high school.
Senate Bill 68 ( LIFE Scholarships for Home School Students) was approved by the Senate
Education Committee and waits approval by the full Senate. The bill
requires home- schooled student to meet two of the following criteria to
get a LIFE scholarship:
·
Have a grade point average
of “B” or above
·
Meet the required SAT score
and ACT score
·
Be in the top thirty percent
of the Home School Association graduation class
Senate Bill 13 (SC
Teacher Protection Act) was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee and
waits approval by the full Senate. The bill provides that a teacher may
bring civil action against a student committing a criminal offense against
the teacher if the offense occurs on school grounds/functions or if the
offense is directly related to the teacher’s professional
responsibilities.
Senate Bill 618
(Employee Contributions-TERI Adjustments) waits second reading in the
Senate with objections from Senators Ryberg, Ford, Leventis, and Hotto.
The bill has the following provisions:
- Any retired
employees returning to work will be required to pay an employee
contribution of 6% in the retirement system.
- The first payout
of unused annual leave for TERI participants will be eliminated.
- An individual may
not return back to work if he/she has left the TERI program and wish to
work in an agency that participates in the retirement system.
- An individual who
wishes to retire after 28 years will be required to pay a higher
retirement benefit percentage.
- Eliminate the
current maximum restriction in equity investments from 40%.
Legislative Update for the Week of March 14, 2005
House Bill 3716 (State Appropriation) was
approved by the House of Representative and waits deliberation and
approval by the Senate. The bill has some of the following provisions:
- The Base Student
Cost is $2, 290 per student. This amount represents $400 per student
above last year expenditure.
- Teachers will
receive a 1.6% salary increase. State employees will receive a 4% salary
increase.
- School districts
may offer merit pay to teachers who have demonstrated outstanding
performances.
- Unsatisfactory
schools may choose an alternate form of technical assistance as long as
the model is research-based.
- A student with
disability may become exempt from taking the high school exit exam (HSAP)
if her or she fails the initial administration of the exam and the IEP
team agrees.
- School funding
will be divided into six categories called SMART funding.
- School districts
shall not be required to meet the local match requirements of the
Education Finance Act. The Association opposes this provision and ask
that you contact your Senator to speak in opposition to this provision.
This provision if approved by the Senate would lower the amount of
dollars going to public education.
- School district
shall not be required to meet the maintenance of local effort of the
Education Improvement Act. The Association also opposes this provision
and ask that you contact your Senator to speak in opposition to this
provision. This provision if approved by the Senate would also lower the
amount of dollars going to public education.
- The average
teacher salary is $300 above the southeastern average.
Senate Bill 144
(Self-Medication) was approved by the Senate and waits debate and approval
by the House of Representative. The bill allows a student to
self-administer his or her medication for asthma, diabetes, allergic
reactions, etc. Each student must have an individual help plan approved by
the parent, school nurse and the administration.
Legislative Update for
the Week of March 7, 2005
The House of Representative will debate
the State Appropriation Bill the week of March 14, 2005. Some of the
following educational provisions will be discussed:
- The total amount
of funding for K-12 education is projected to be $9, 826 per pupil for
operating expenses of local schools. This is broken down as $4, 296
state, $964 federal and $4,566 local.
- The Base Student
Cost is projected to be $2, 290 per student.
- Teachers will be
paid $300 above the southeastern average.
- State sponsored
health insurance will increase $2.20 per month beginning January 1,
2006.
- State employees
will get a 4% salary increase.
- Teachers will get
a 1.6% salary increase.
- The local match
requirement of the Education Finance Act and the maintenance of local
effort of the Education Improvement Act would be suspended for one year.
(Our Association is against both provisions because it excuses local
governments and boards from raising additional funds to support
education) Please contact your House member and voice your
disapproval.
Senate Bill 4
(Education and Economic Development Act) was amended by the Senate
Education Committee and waits deliberation and debate by the full Senate.
The amended bill allows a student to transfer within the district if a
career cluster offering is offered at another high school within the
district and not at their home school. It was further amended to require a
minimum of three cluster offerings in every high school.
Senate Bill 144
(Procedures for K-12 Students to Self-Medicate) was amended by the Senate
Education Committee and waits deliberation and debate by the full Senate.
The amended bill allows a student to self-medicate such childhood ailments
as asthma, diabetes, etc.
House Bill 3413 (Name
Change for Vocational Education) was approved by the House Education
Committee and waits deliberation and debate by the full House. The bill
changes all references in state law from Vocational Education to Career
and Technology Education.
Legislative Update for the Week of
March 1, 2005
House Bill 3155
(Education and Economic Development Act) was approved by the House and was
delivered to the Senate for approval. The bill replaces the School-To-Work
Act. It also requires the employment of a Career Specialist at each High
School for every 300 high school students. The Career Specialist would
come under the direct supervision of the guidance counselor. The bill
further requires the State Department of Education to develop proven
programs to address at-risk youths.
Senate Bill 4
(Education and Economic Development Act) was approved by a K-12
Subcommittee of the Senate Education Committee and waits approval by the
Senate Education Committee. The bill is similar to what passed in the
House but was amended to allow students to transfer to another schools
that offers a Career Cluster that is not offered at their base school as
long as a racial balance continues to exist and the Act would not go into
affect without proper funding.
Senate Bill 144
(Self-Administer of Asthma Medication) was approved by a K-12 Subcommittee
of the Senate Education Committee and waits approval by the Senate
Education Committee. The bill requires that each student who
self-administer or self-monitor diabetes, asthma or allergic medications
shall have an individual health plan. This provision can only be revoked
if the student endangers himself or other students.
House Bill 3607
(Student Attendance) was approved by the House and was delivered to the
Senate for approval. The bill allows students to make-up time missed from
school in order to earn a carnegie unit of credit.
House Bill 3020
(Financial Literacy) was approved by the House and was delivered to the
Senate for approval. The bill requires the teaching of financial literacy
in each high school.
Legislative Update for the Week of February 21, 2005
House Bill 3020
(Financial Literacy Instruction Act) of Representative Govan was approved
by the House Education Committee and has been placed on the House calendar
for approval. The bill requires the State Board of Education to develop a
course in financial literacy.
House Bill 3155 (SC
Education and Economic Development Act) of Representative Townsend was
approved by the House Education Committee and has been placed on the House
calendar for approval. The bill requires that all high schools will offer
a minimum of three of sixteen career clusters. The bill further requires
the employment of a Career Specialist who will counsel and direct students
to choose a career cluster of study. The bill has an annual fiscal impact
of $25 million per year when fully implemented. The Association has
funding concerns.
Senate Bill 98 (Safe
Schools Act) of Senator Reese was approved by the Senate Education
Committee and has been placed on the Senate calendar for approval. The
bill requires training for teachers regarding bullying and that a local
board must develop a policy addressing it.
The House Ways and
Means Committee approved the following state budget provisions that will
be debated and approved by the House:
- Proviso 1.3 (Base
Student Cost) will be funded at $2,290 per student for the 2005-2006
school year. This amount represents full funding.
- Proviso 1.8
(Educational Responsibility/Foster Care) requires school districts to
pay John de la Howe its district’s local fund if they refer a student
there.
- Proviso 1.42
(Assessment of Student with Disabilities) exempts a student from taking
the High School Assessment Program (HSAP) if a student’s IEP team has
determine that a student has met all of the following conditions a) The
student failed to pass any part of the HSAP during the initial
participation in the HSAP, and b) the student has not earned any
carnegie units in the core curriculum, and c) the student is not
enrolled in a course in the core curriculum required for high school
graduation.
- Proviso 1.57
(School Districts and Special Schools Flexibility) allows school
districts to transfer up to 100% of funds between programs within a
designated SMART funding category to any other instructional program
within the same category provided the funds are utilized for direct
classroom instruction. The six funding categories are Quality Teaching,
Instruction, Technical Assistance, Operations and Safety, Workforce
Education, and Special Needs.
- Teachers will get
an average 1.6% pay increase and State employees will get an average 4%
increase.
- The average
increase for health insurance will be $2.20.
Legislative Update for the Week of February 7, 2005.
House
Bill 3086 (SMART Funding) was approved by the House and was sent to the
Senate for deliberation. The bill divides school funding into six (6)
categories. School districts may transfer 100% within a category and up to
20% between categories if funds are used for direct classroom instruction.
The State Superintendent
of Education presented the following budget to a subcommittee of the Senate
Finance Committee:
Priority 1-
The Base Student Cost for the 2005-2006 School Year should be $2,290.00
rather than the current $1, 852.00.
Priority 2-
Continue the flexibility of the
Education Accountable Act that allows a school district that is rated
unsatisfactory to choose a proven strategy to address its unsatisfactory
rating.
Priority 3-
An additional $18 million is needed for
a mentoring program
Priority 4-
An additional $10 million is needed in
Early Childhood Education to serve an additional 10,000 students.
Priority 5-
Increase Summer School by $10 million to
add science and social studies.
Priority 6-
An additional 3.8 million is needed for
EAA assessment contractual cost.
Priority 7-Textbooks
need $11 million.
Priority 8-
Transportation needs $30 million in
order to replace buses that have gone over 250,000 miles and an additional
$22 million to raise bus driver’s salary to $10.81 per hour.
Priority 9-
The High Schools-That-Work program needs
$1 million.
Priority 10-The
Young Adult Education Program needs an additional $1.6 million for its GED
program.
Priority 11-The
SASI system needs $2.5 million for a unique student identifier.
Priority 12-Technology
needs $22 million for new internet connectivity.
Priority 13-An
additional $26 million is needed for curriculum standards, Gifted and
Talented Education, SAT, and Advance Placement programs.
Priority 14-Additional
funds are needed for alternative special education residence placement.
Priority 15-Lottery
funds for K-5 and 6-8 Enhancement Programs should be funded at $48.9
million.
Priority 16-An
additional $1.6 million is needed to expand into high schools the Institute
for Reading Program.
Legislative Update for the Week of
February 1, 2005
Governor Sanford’s
proposed budget before the House Ways and Means Committee rolls specific program dollars into a pool of money
to be allocated through the Base Student Cost. This would increase the Base
Student Cost to $2,213, however the increased is funded by general funds and
EIA funds currently dedicated to education. Without this infusion of money
the Governor’s Base Student Cost proposal is $1,944. His proposal also
includes $53 million to increase teacher salaries to $300 above the
Southeastern average and it builds incentives for National Board
Certification teachers to work in areas in
South Carolina where there is the greatest
subject or geographic need.
House Bill 3007 (Income
Tax Reduction) of Representative Wilkens passed the House and is headed to
the Senate. The bill reduces the State’s personal income tax rate from 7% to
4.75% over a ten years period by reducing it annually by .225% when the
State’s growth is 2% and above. The Association opposes this legislation
because there are no provisions in the bill to replace lost revenues.
House Bill 3011
(Removal of Constitutional Officers) of Representative Wilkens passed the
House and is headed to the Senate. The bill eliminates the constitutional
offices of the State Superintendent of Education and the Secretary of State
through referendum. These officers would be appointed by the Governor and
would become apart of his cabinet.
Legislative Update for the Week of
January 24, 2005
House Bill 3010
(Carolina Public Charter School District) was approved for third reading in
the House of Representatives. The bill now heads to the Senate. The bill
requires that all State and Federal funding follows a child who attends a
private school, charter school, or home schooled. Operationally, the public
charter school district is expected to cost in excess of $500,000 annually
with a fiscal impact of $2.5 million to set up the new system. The
Association is against this bill. It will drain needed resources from rural
schools.
House Bill 3007 (Income Tax Restructuring) was
carried over by the House for debate during the week of February 1, 2005.
The Association opposes this bill.
House Bill 3011 (State Superintendent Appointed) was
carried over by the House for debate during the week of February 1, 2005.
The bill makes the State Superintendent an appointed office of the Governor.
Legislative Update for the Week of January 17, 2005
House
Bill 3150 (Sunset of State Agencies) was passed by the Full Ways and Means
Committee that terminates the Department of Education
June 30, 2009 unless reauthorized. The bill now goes to the House floor
for consideration.
House Bill 3086 (SMART Funding) was approved by a subcommittee of the Ways
and Means Committee that provides 100% flexibility in 8 categories and 20%
flexibility between categories. The bill now goes to the Full Ways and Means
Committee for consideration.
House Bill 3007 (Income Tax Reduction) was approved by the Full Ways and
Means Committee that reduces the current 7% rate to a 4.75% rate with
increments of .255% reductions each year. The Board of Economic Advisers
predicts that the state would loose $928 million in State revenue with the
full implementation of the reductions. The Association opposes this bill.
Please speak with your House Member and voice your views regarding this
bill. The bill now goes to the House floor for consideration,
Legislative Update for the Week of Jan 7 -14, 2005
House Bill 3010 (SC Public Charter
School Act) was carried over for discussion by the Full House Education
Committee to next week. The Bill was amended to include all applications
must be screened by the Charter School Advisory Committee, local districts
may appeal a Charter School Advisory Committee approval to the State Board
of Education if they can prove that such a school would adversely affect the
school district, and the test performance of students attending a local
district or statewide charter district will be reported by the sponsoring
district.
House Bill 3010 (SMART Funding) was
approved by a subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee. The bill
reduces all school funding into eight categories with flexibility between
the categories.
The Senate approved rule changes
that reduced the number of voting senators required to cut off a filibuster
from 28 to 26. The Senate also changed the amendment rule to state that
bills can only be amended during second reading.
Federal Legislation
Please keep in contact with your SCARE Executive Committee with your concerns
about Legislation.
|
