S 0792 General Bill, By M.T. Rose
 A Bill to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section
 59-30-120 so as to provide for parents to attend a school district conference
 to present a plan to assist their child in achieving the minimum standards for
 readiness on the Basic Skills Exam and to provide penalties for failure to
 attend.

   03/20/91  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-5
   03/20/91  Senate Referred to Committee on Education SJ-5

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-30-120 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR PARENTS TO ATTEND A SCHOOL DISTRICT CONFERENCE TO PRESENT A PLAN TO ASSIST THEIR CHILD IN ACHIEVING THE MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR READINESS ON THE BASIC SKILLS EXAM AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR FAILURE TO ATTEND.

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

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-30-120. (A) For each student failing to achieve mastery level performance on the basic skills test at grade levels third, sixth, and eighth, within thirty days of the test results being known, each school district shall evaluate the student and develop an academic skills plan to assist the student in achieving mastery of the basic skills in subject areas where performance is below mastery level.

(B) Within sixty days of the test results being known, the academic skills plan must be developed and a conference scheduled for the student's school principal, the student's teachers, the student's counselor, and any other necessary person to present the plan to the student and the student's parents, guardians, or persons in loco parentis. At the request of the parents, guardian, or persons in loco parentis, an individual of their choosing may attend the conference with them.

(C) The conference must be held at a reasonable time and location to be set by the student's school principal who shall notify the student's parents, guardians, or persons in loco parentis of the conference in writing by certified mail return receipt requested.

(D) Failure on the part of the student's parents, guardian, or persons in loco parentis, upon proper notice, to attend the conference or to change the date and time to one which is reasonable and mutually agreeable, shall subject them to civil sanction in a court of competent jurisdiction including a civil penalty not exceeding fifty dollars plus costs of court and any reasonable fees. The fine must be forwarded by the court to the school district attended by the student and placed in a fund established to defer the cost of remedial programs for students failing to achieve mastery level performance on the basic skills test. When practicable and appropriate, the court may utilize community service requirements in lieu of monetary penalties.

(E) Each school district shall notify the prosecuting attorney if the school attended by the student is located outside of the city limits, or city attorney if the school attended by the student is located within the city limits, whichever is applicable, whenever a parent, guardian, or a person in loco parentis violates the provisions of this section. The prosecuting or city attorney shall take appropriate action to collect the penalty."

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