H 4497 General Bill, By Allison, Walker, Gilham, Littlejohn, Martin, Rodgers, 
Stille and Townsend
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 59-17-135 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL ESTABLISH A
 COMMUNITIES OF CHARACTER PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES K-12 AND TO PROVIDE
 FOR THE CONTENT OF THESE PROGRAMS.

   01/27/00  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-22
   01/27/00  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works HJ-22

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-17-135 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL ESTABLISH A COMMUNITIES OF CHARACTER PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES K-12 AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONTENT OF THESE PROGRAMS.

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

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-17-135. (A) The General Assembly finds:

(1) the schools of South Carolina must provide the safest environment possible for students to learn;

(2) teaching positive character traits is essential to improving the learning environment, promoting student achievement, reducing disciplinary problems, and developing civic-minded students;

(3) schools must be encouraged to instill the highest character and academic excellence in each student, in close cooperation with the student's parents; and

(4) elected officials, community and civic leaders, business leaders, religious institutions, youth organizations, government, media, and citizens-at-large must take responsibility and become actively involved in creating an atmosphere which encourages positive character development through every sector of the community.

(B) The school districts of the State, in conjunction with the persons referenced in subsection (A)(4), shall establish a Communities of Character Program for kindergarten through twelfth grade students. To the extent possible, the program shall incorporate the following character traits: courage, patriotism, citizenship, honesty, fairness, respect for others, kindness, cooperation, self-respect, self-control, courtesy, compassion, tolerance, diligence, generosity, punctuality, cleanliness, cheerfulness, patience, sportsmanship, loyalty, and virtue. From funds appropriated by the General Assembly for character education, the State Department of Education shall make such funds available to school districts for these programs once the districts have organized planning committees to establish community partnership programs for incorporating and reinforcing positive character qualities in all grade levels and all levels of the community. Communities of Character Programs must include, but are not limited to, the components of community participation, character education policies, defined character traits, integrated curriculum approaches, student learning activities, service learning opportunities, positive community role models, staff development, and an evaluation component.

The State Department of Education shall provide to the school districts of the State information on programs, curriculums, and resources that currently is available which incorporates character education into classroom instruction and which encourages positive character development throughout the community."

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