H*3028 Session 119 (2011-2012)
H*3028(Rat #0283, Act #0231 of 2012) General Bill, By Clemmons, Taylor,
Clyburn and Long
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 59-26-40, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
1976, RELATING TO INDUCTION, ANNUAL, AND CONTINUING CONTRACTS FOR TEACHERS, SO
AS TO INCREASE THE INDUCTION CONTRACT PERIOD FROM ONE YEAR TO THREE YEARS, AND
FURTHER PROVIDE FOR PROVISIONS OF LAW PERTAINING TO TEACHER CONTRACTS AND
EMPLOYMENT. - ratified title
12/07/10 House Prefiled
12/07/10 House Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works
01/11/11 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 16)
01/11/11 House Referred to Committee on Education and Public
Works (House Journal-page 16)
01/12/11 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Long
04/13/11 House Committee report: Favorable with amendment
Education and Public Works (House Journal-page 45)
04/26/11 House Requests for debate-Rep(s). Hiott, Whitmire,
Skelton, Sellers, Jefferson, Ott, Toole, King,
Brantley, Hosey, RL Brown, Clyburn, Clemmons,
Pinson, Taylor, Dillard, and Parker
(House Journal-page 85)
04/28/11 House Debate adjourned until Tuesday, May 3, 2011
(House Journal-page 79)
05/05/11 House Debate adjourned until Wednesday, May 11, 2011
(House Journal-page 34)
05/18/11 House Debate adjourned until Thursday, May 19, 2011
(House Journal-page 29)
05/18/11 House Reconsidered (House Journal-page 84)
05/18/11 House Amended (House Journal-page 84)
05/18/11 House Read second time (House Journal-page 84)
05/18/11 House Roll call Yeas-66 Nays-43 (House Journal-page 84)
05/19/11 House Read third time and sent to Senate
(House Journal-page 34)
05/24/11 Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 15)
05/24/11 Senate Referred to Committee on Education
(Senate Journal-page 15)
04/03/12 Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment
Education (Senate Journal-page 8)
05/30/12 Senate Committee Amendment Adopted (Senate Journal-page 134)
05/30/12 Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 134)
05/30/12 Senate Roll call Ayes-37 Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 134)
05/31/12 Senate Read third time and returned to House with
amendments (Senate Journal-page 27)
06/06/12 House Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled
(House Journal-page 48)
06/06/12 House Roll call Yeas-97 Nays-0 (House Journal-page 48)
06/12/12 Ratified R 283
06/18/12 Signed By Governor
06/20/12 Effective date 06/18/12
06/26/12 Act No. 231
H. 3028
(A231, R283, H3028)
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 59-26-40, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO INDUCTION, ANNUAL, AND CONTINUING CONTRACTS FOR TEACHERS, SO AS TO INCREASE THE INDUCTION CONTRACT PERIOD FROM ONE YEAR TO THREE YEARS, AND FURTHER PROVIDE FOR PROVISIONS OF LAW PERTAINING TO TEACHER CONTRACTS AND EMPLOYMENT.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
Induction contract period revised
SECTION 1. Section 59-26-40(C) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 283 of 2004, is further amended to read:
"(C) At the end of each year of the three-year induction period, the district may employ the teacher under another induction contract, an annual contract, or may terminate his employment. If employment is terminated, the teacher may seek employment in another school district at the induction contract level. At the end of the three-year induction contract period, a teacher shall become eligible for employment at the annual contract level. At the discretion of the local school district in which the induction teacher was employed, the district may employ the teacher under an annual contract or the district may terminate his employment. If employment is terminated, the teacher may seek employment in another school district at the annual contract level. A person must not be employed as an induction teacher for more than three years. This subsection does not preclude his employment under an emergency certificate in extraordinary circumstances if the employment is approved by the State Board of Education. During the induction contract period, the employment dismissal provisions of Article 3, Chapter 19 and Article 5, Chapter 25 of this title do not apply."
Induction contract period revised
SECTION 2. Section 59-26-40(J) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 283 of 2004, is further amended to read:
"(J) After successfully completing an induction contract period, not to exceed three years, and an annual contract period, a teacher shall become eligible for employment at the continuing contract level. This contract status is transferable to any district in this State. A continuing contract teacher shall have full procedural rights that currently exist under law relating to employment and dismissal. A teacher employed under a continuing contract must be evaluated on a continuous basis. At the discretion of the local district and based on an individual teacher's needs and past performance, the evaluation may be formal or informal. Formal evaluations must be conducted with a process developed or adopted by the local district in accordance with State Board of Education regulations. The formal process also must include an individualized professional growth plan established by the school or district. Professional growth plans must be supportive of district strategic plans and school renewal plans. Informal evaluations which should be conducted for accomplished teachers who have consistently performed at levels required by state standards, must be conducted with a goals-based process in accordance with State Board of Education regulations. The professional development goals must be established by the teacher in consultation with a building administrator and must be supportive of district strategic plans and school renewal plans."
Induction contract period revised
SECTION 3. Section 59-26-40(L) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 283 of 2004, is further amended to read:
"(L) A teacher certified under the career and technology education work-based certification process is 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. After completing the induction contract period, not to exceed three years, the teacher may be employed for a maximum of four years under an annual contract to establish his eligibility for employment as a continuing contract teacher. Before being eligible for a continuing contract, a teacher shall pass a basic skills examination developed in accordance with Section 59-26-30, a state approved skill assessment in his area, and performance evaluations as required for teachers who are employed under annual contracts. Certification renewal requirements for teachers are those promulgated by the State Board of Education."
Time effective
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
Ratified the 12th day of June, 2012.
Approved the 18th day of June, 2012.
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