H 4778 General Bill, By Allison, Erickson, Collins, Stringer, Taylor, Felder, 
Yow, Gagnon, Duckworth, Johnson, Clary, Govan, Neal, George, Anthony, Willis, 
Bannister, Bingham, R.L. Brown, Crosby, Daning, Hayes, Henderson, Hixon, Long, 
Lucas, V.S. Moss, Pope, Rivers, Simrill, Tallon, Wells and Kennedy
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 59-17-145 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT BEGINNING WITH THE 2017-2018 SCHOOL YEAR, ALL
 SCHOOL DISTRICTS MUST BE ACCREDITED BY ADVANCED, FORMERLY THE SOUTHERN
 ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE MANNER IN WHICH
 WAIVERS OF THIS PROVISION MAY BE GRANTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

   01/28/16  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 11)
   01/28/16  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works (House Journal-page 11)
   02/02/16         Scrivener's error corrected
   02/09/16  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Kennedy

H. 4778

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-17-145 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT BEGINNING WITH THE 2017-2018 SCHOOL YEAR, ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS MUST BE ACCREDITED BY ADVANCED, FORMERLY THE SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE MANNER IN WHICH WAIVERS OF THIS PROVISION MAY BE GRANTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    Chapter 17, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-17-145.    Beginning with the 2017-2018 school year, all school districts must be accredited by AdvancED, formerly the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The State Department of Education may grant a waiver from this requirement to any school district for good cause shown to the department if unable to meet this requirement. No such waiver may be granted for a period exceeding two school years."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.