H 4194 General Bill, By G.M. Smith and Wylie
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 59-5-65, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976,
 RELATING TO POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, SO AS
 TO PROVIDE THAT BOARD REGULATIONS CONCERNING HALF-DAY FOUR YEAR OLD EDUCATION
 PROGRAMS MAY NOT REQUIRE HOME VISITS BY SCHOOL DISTRICT PERSONNEL; AND TO
 AMEND SECTION 59-139-10, RELATING TO SCHOOL DISTRICT EARLY CHILDHOOD
 INITIATIVES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT DISTRICT PLANS MAY NOT INCLUDE HOME VISITS
 BY SCHOOL DISTRICT PERSONNEL.

   11/17/09  House  Prefiled
   11/17/09  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works
   01/12/10  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-24
   01/12/10  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works HJ-24

TO AMEND SECTION 59-5-65, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT BOARD REGULATIONS CONCERNING HALF-DAY FOUR YEAR OLD EDUCATION PROGRAMS MAY NOT REQUIRE HOME VISITS BY SCHOOL DISTRICT PERSONNEL; AND TO AMEND SECTION 59-139-10, RELATING TO SCHOOL DISTRICT EARLY CHILDHOOD INITIATIVES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT DISTRICT PLANS MAY NOT INCLUDE HOME VISITS BY SCHOOL DISTRICT PERSONNEL.

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

SECTION    1.    Section 59-5-65(8) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(8)    Develop and implement regulations requiring all school districts to provide at least one-half day early childhood development programs for four-year-old children who have predicted significant readiness deficiencies and whose parents voluntarily allow participation. The regulations must require intensive and special efforts to recruit children whose participation is difficult to obtain, but in no event may the regulations require home visits by school district personnel. The school districts school district may contract with appropriate groups and agencies to provide part or all of the programs. If a local advisory committee exists in a community to coordinate early childhood education and development, school districts a school district shall consult with the committee in planning and developing services. The State Department of Education shall collect and analyze longitudinal data to determine the effects of child development programs on the later achievement of children by tracking four-year-old child development program participants through kindergarten and the first three years of elementary school to examine their performance on appropriate performance measures."

SECTION    2.    Section 59-139-10(A) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(A)    The State Board of Education, through the Department of Education and in consultation with the Education Oversight Committee, shall develop and implement regulations requiring that beginning in school year 1993-94 1994 and by school year 1994-95 1995, each school district, in coordination with its schools, and each school in the district shall design a comprehensive, long-range plan with annual updates to carry out the purposes of this chapter. To that end, the plans shall:

(1)    establish an early childhood initiative which integrates the planning and direction of the half-day program for four-year-olds established in Section 59-5-65, the parenting program established in Section 59-1-450, the early childhood assistance program established in Section 59-139-20, school practices in kindergarten through grade three, and any other federal, state, or district programs for preschool children in the district in order to better focus on the needs of this student population, but in no event may the plans include home visits by school district personnel;

(2)    develop an academic assistance initiative to support students with academic difficulties in grades four through twelve so they are able to progress academically and move through school with their peers; and

(3)    provide staff training, upon appropriation of funds by the General Assembly for this purpose, to prepare and train teachers and administrators in the teaching techniques and strategies needed to implement the district and school plan."

SECTION    3.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.