H 4453 Joint Resolution, By Townsend, Cato, Cooper, Stille and Trotter

Similar(S 949)
 A Joint Resolution to permit certain students until December, 1, 1996, the
 opportunity to take the Education Entrance Examination (EEE) or certain
 sections thereof not passed for a fourth time under specified conditions.

   01/17/96  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-9
   01/17/96  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works HJ-9
   04/18/96  House  Committee report: Favorable Education and Public
                     Works HJ-2
   04/23/96  House  Debate adjourned until Wednesday, April 24, 1996 HJ-66
   04/24/96  House  Debate adjourned until Thursday, April 25, 1996 HJ-19
   04/25/96  House  Debate adjourned until Tuesday, April 30, 1996 HJ-17
   04/25/96  House  Reconsidered HJ-79
   04/25/96  House  Objection by Rep. Cotty HJ-79
   04/25/96  House  Debate interrupted HJ-80
   04/25/96  House  Amended HJ-82
   04/25/96  House  Objection by Rep. Cain, Lanford, Marchbanks,
                     Fulmer, Hallman, Knotts, L. Whipper, Anderson,
                     Davenport & McMahand HJ-83
   05/07/96  House  Tabled HJ-55

[P:\AMEND\GJK\22755SD.96]

April 25, 1996

H. 4453

S. Printed 4/18/96--H.

Read the first time January 17, 1996.

A JOINT RESOLUTION

TO PERMIT CERTAIN STUDENTS UNTIL DECEMBER 1, 1996, THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THE EDUCATION ENTRANCE EXAMINATION (EEE) OR CERTAIN SECTIONS THEREOF NOT PASSED FOR A FOURTH TIME UNDER SPECIFIED CONDITIONS.

Amend Title To Conform

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

SECTION 1. The General Assembly finds that:

(1) for the past two years a temporary budget proviso allowed students in the teacher preparation program who met certain requirements to undertake a fourth attempt to pass the Education Entrance Examination;

(2) when the General Assembly chose to end the authorization for the fourth opportunity to sit for the examination by deleting this budget proviso in the 1995-96 general appropriations act, some students, acting in good faith, were caught in the process of qualifying for the fourth attempt on the exam; and

(3) the General Assembly by this act is desirous of correcting this inequity.

SECTION 2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person required to take and pass the Education Entrance Examination (EEE), pursuant to Section 59-26-20(e) or 59-26-40 of the 1976 Code, who has failed to achieve a passing score on all sections after the number of attempts allowed by law may retake for a fourth time any test section not passed in the manner allowed by this section. The person must complete a remedial or developmental course from a post-secondary institution in the subject area of any test section not passed and must petition the State Superintendent of Education or the chairperson of the State Board of Education for authorization to retake that portion of the test failed. The State Superintendent of Education or the chairperson of the State Board of Education is authorized to grant the petition. The applicant must then pay a cost, not to exceed sixty dollars to be determined by the authorizing authority, for the administration of the fourth examination.

The State Superintendent of Education or the chairperson of the State Board of Education may not grant any petitions to take the EEE for a fourth time which are received after the effective date of this act.

SECTION 3. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, before a student may enter a teacher education program after December 1, 1996, he or she must have passed the Education Entrance Examination (EEE). After December 1, 1996, any person who has failed to achieve a passing score on all sections of the EEE after two attempts may retake for a third time any test section not passed in the manner allowed by this section. The person must first complete a remedial or developmental course from a post-secondary institution in the subject area of any test section not passed and provide satisfactory evidence of completion of this required remedial or developmental course to the State Superintendent of Education. A third administration of the examination may then be given to this person. If the person fails to pass the EEE after the third attempt, he or she after a period of five years may take the EEE or any sections not passed for a fourth time under the same terms and conditions provided by this section for persons desiring to take the EEE for a third time.

SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor, except that the provisions of Section 2 hereof expire on December 1, 1996.