S 1306 General Bill, By J.A. Martin
 A Bill to amend Section 59-26-40, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976,
 relating to teacher contracts, so as to authorize annual contracts under
 certain conditions for teachers certified under the Trades and Industrial
 Education Certification process who are employed in rural school districts.

   02/19/92  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-7
   02/19/92  Senate Referred to Committee on Education SJ-7

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 59-26-40, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO TEACHER CONTRACTS, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE ANNUAL CONTRACTS UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS FOR TEACHERS CERTIFIED UNDER THE TRADES AND INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION CERTIFICATION PROCESS WHO ARE EMPLOYED IN RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

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

SECTION 1. The eleventh paragraph of Section 59-26-40 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Teachers certified under the trades and industrial education certification process are exempt from the provisions of the South Carolina Education Improvement Act of 1984 which require the completion of scholastic requirements for teaching at an approved college or university and a provisional contract period. The teachers may be employed by a school district for a maximum of five years under annual contracts prior to being employed under a continuing contract. Before being employed under a continuing contract these teachers shall pass the Basic Skills Examination developed in accordance with Section 59-26-30(b)(1) the state approved skill examination in their area which is currently required, the teaching examination developed in accordance with Section 59-26-30(b)(2), and sucessfully complete the performance evaluations as required for all teachers who are employed under provisional contracts. However, teachers employed in school districts classified as rural under the criteria established by the State Board of Education may continue to be employed under annual contracts so long as they meet renewal requirements for provisional certificates and obtain remediation in order to pass the Basic Skills Examination. Certification renewal requirements for such teachers are those which are promulgated by the State Board of Education."

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