S 0762  General Bill, By M.B.Matthews
 A BILL TO AMEND ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 18, TITLE 59 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO
 THE EDUCATION ACCOUNTABILITY ACT, BY ADDING SECTION 59-18-130 AND SECTION
 59-18-140, TO PROVIDE THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION SHALL LOWER
 CHILD-TO-TEACHER RATIOS TO ASSIST CHRONICALLY UNSATISFACTORY SCHOOLS, TO
 ADDRESS FUNDING, AND TO PROVIDE THAT KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THIRD GRADE CLASSES
 IN LOW PERFORMING SCHOOLS WITH MORE THAN FIFTEEN STUDENTS MUST HAVE A TEACHER
 AND A TEACHER'S ASSISTANT; TO AMEND ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 25, TITLE 59 OF THE
 1976 CODE, RELATING TO TEACHERS, BY ADDING SECTION 59-25-60, TO PROVIDE THAT
 EACH CLASSROOM TEACHER AND FULL-TIME LIBRARIAN IS ENTITLED TO AT LEAST A
 THIRTY-MINUTE DAILY PLANNING PERIOD FREE FROM THE INSTRUCTION AND SUPERVISION
 OF STUDENTS.
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   04/10/19  Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 12)
   04/10/19  Senate Referred to Committee on Education
                     (Senate Journal-page 12)

TO AMEND ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 18, TITLE 59 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE EDUCATION ACCOUNTABILITY ACT, BY ADDING SECTION 59-18-130 AND SECTION 59-18-140, TO PROVIDE THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION SHALL LOWER CHILD-TO-TEACHER RATIOS TO ASSIST CHRONICALLY UNSATISFACTORY SCHOOLS, TO ADDRESS FUNDING, AND TO PROVIDE THAT KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THIRD GRADE CLASSES IN LOW PERFORMING SCHOOLS WITH MORE THAN FIFTEEN STUDENTS MUST HAVE A TEACHER AND A TEACHER'S ASSISTANT; TO AMEND ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 25, TITLE 59 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO TEACHERS, BY ADDING SECTION 59-25-60, TO PROVIDE THAT EACH CLASSROOM TEACHER AND FULL-TIME LIBRARIAN IS ENTITLED TO AT LEAST A THIRTY-MINUTE DAILY PLANNING PERIOD FREE FROM THE INSTRUCTION AND SUPERVISION OF STUDENTS.

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

SECTION    1.    Article 1, Chapter 18 of Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-18-130.    (A)    The Superintendent of Education shall utilize lower child-to-teacher ratios to assist chronically below average and unsatisfactory schools.

(B)    School districts must use existing funding to meet and maintain lower ratios. No student-teacher classroom ratio created by statute, resolution, or regulation may be waived or otherwise changed temporarily or permanently by any legislative measure absent a two-thirds vote of approval by the membership of the House of Representatives and a two-thirds vote of approval by the membership of the Senate.

Section 59-18-140.    Beginning with the 2019-2020 School Year, kindergarten through third grade classes with more than fifteen students in low performing schools must have a teacher and a teacher's assistant."

SECTION    2.    Article 1, Chapter 25, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-25-60.    Each classroom teacher and full-time librarian must have at least a thirty-minute daily planning period free from the instruction and supervision of students. Each school district may set flexible or rotating schedules for each classroom teacher or full-time librarian in the district for the implementation of this section. Implementation of this section may not result in a lengthened school day."

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