Current Status Introducing Body:Senate Bill Number:1070 Primary Sponsor:Rose Committee Number:04 Type of Legislation:GB Subject:Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Act Residing Body:Senate Current Committee:Education Computer Document Number:BBM/9560.JM Introduced Date:Jan 14, 1992 Last History Body:Senate Last History Date:Jan 14, 1992 Last History Type:Introduced, read first time, referred to Committee Scope of Legislation:Statewide All Sponsors:Rose Type of Legislation:General Bill
Bill Body Date Action Description CMN
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1070 Senate Jan 14, 1992 Introduced, read first time, 04
referred to Committee
1070 Senate Oct 07, 1991 Prefiled, referred to 04
Committee
View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
TO AMEND TITLE 59, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO EDUCATION, BY ADDING CHAPTER 142 SO AS TO ENACT THE SOUTH CAROLINA "POST-SECONDARY ENROLLMENT OPTIONS ACT".
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
Section 59-142-10. This chapter may be cited as the South Carolina `Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Act'.
Section 59-142-20. The purpose of this chapter is to promote rigorous academic pursuits and to provide a wider variety of options to high school pupils by encouraging and enabling secondary pupils to enroll full time or part time in nonsectarian courses or programs in eligible post-secondary institutions, as defined in Section 59-142-30.
Section 59-142-30. For purposes of this chapter, an `eligible institution' means a South Carolina public post-secondary institution or a private, residential, two-year or four-year, liberal arts, degree-granting college or university located in South Carolina. `Course' means a course or program.
Section 59-142-40. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an eleventh or twelfth grade pupil may apply to an eligible institution, as defined in Section 59-142-30, to enroll in nonsectarian courses offered at that post-secondary institution. If an institution accepts a secondary pupil for enrollment under this chapter, the institution shall send written notice to the pupil, the pupil's school district, and the Superintendent of Education within ten days of acceptance. The notice shall indicate the course and hours of enrollment of that pupil. If the pupil enrolls in a course for post-secondary credit, the institution shall notify the pupil about payment in the customary manner used by the institution.
Section 59-142-50. To the extent possible, the school district shall provide counseling services to pupils and their parents or guardian before the pupils enroll in courses under this chapter to ensure that the pupils and their parents or guardian are fully aware of the risks and possible consequences of enrolling in post-secondary courses. The district shall provide information on the program including who may enroll, what institutions and courses are eligible for participation, the decision-making process for granting academic credits, financial arrangements for tuition, books, and materials, eligibility criteria for transportation aid, available support services, the need to arrange an appropriate schedule, consequences of failing or not completing a course in which the pupil enrolls, the effect of enrolling in this program on the pupil's ability to complete the required high school graduation requirements, and the academic and social responsibilities that must be assumed by the pupils and their parents or guardian. The person providing counseling shall encourage pupils and their parents or guardian also to use available counseling services at the post-secondary institutions before the quarter or semester of enrollment to ensure that anticipated plans are appropriate.
Prior to enrolling in a course, the pupil and the pupils' parents or guardian must sign a form that must be provided by the district and may be obtained from a post-secondary institution stating that they have received the information specified in this section and that they understand the responsibilities that must be assumed in enrolling in this program. The State Department of Education shall, upon request, provide technical assistance to a district in developing appropriate forms and counseling guidelines.
Section 59-142-60. By March first of each year, a school district shall provide general information about the program to all pupils in grades ten and eleven. To assist the district in planning, a pupil shall inform the district by March thirtieth of each year of the pupil's intent to enroll in post-secondary courses during the following school year. A pupil is not bound by notifying or not notifying the district by March thirtieth.
Section 59-142-70. A pupil who first enrolls in grade eleven may not enroll in post-secondary courses under this chapter for secondary credit for more than the equivalent of two academic years. A pupil who first enrolls in grade twelve may not enroll in post-secondary courses under this chapter for secondary credit for more than the equivalent of one academic year. If a pupil in grade eleven or twelve first enrolls in a post-secondary course for secondary credit during the school year, the time of participation shall be reduced proportionately. A pupil who has graduated from high school cannot participate in a program under this chapter. A pupil who has completed course requirements for graduation but who has not received a diploma may participate in the program under this chapter.
Section 59-142-80. A post-secondary institution shall give priority to its post-secondary students when enrolling eleventh and twelfth grade pupils in courses for secondary credit. Once a pupil has been enrolled in a post-secondary course under this chapter, the pupil shall not be displaced by another student.
Section 59-142-90. A pupil may enroll in a course under this chapter for either secondary credit or post-secondary credit. At the time a pupil enrolls in a course, the pupil shall designate whether the course is for secondary or post-secondary credit. A pupil taking several courses may designate some for secondary credit and some for post-secondary credit. A pupil must not audit a course under this section.
A school district shall grant academic credit to a pupil enrolled in a course for secondary credit if the pupil successfully completes the course. Nine quarter or six semester college credits equal at least one full year of high school credit. Fewer college credits may be prorated. A school district also shall grant academic credit to a pupil enrolled in a course for post-secondary credit if secondary credit is requested by a pupil. If no comparable course is offered by the district, the district shall, as soon as possible, notify the State Department of Education, which shall determine the number of credits that are granted to a pupil who successfully completes a course. If a comparable course is offered by the district, the district school board shall grant a comparable number of credits to the pupil. If there is a dispute between the district and the pupil regarding the number of credits granted for a particular course, the pupil may appeal the board's decision to the State Department of Education. The state department's decision regarding the number of credits is final.
The secondary credits granted to a pupil are counted toward the graduation requirements and subject area requirements of the school district. Evidence of successful completion of each course and secondary credits granted is included in the pupil's secondary school record. A pupil must provide the school with a copy of the pupil's grade in each course taken for secondary credit under this chapter. Upon the request of a pupil, the pupil's secondary school record also shall include evidence of successful completion and credits granted for a course taken for post-secondary credit. In either case, the record shall indicate that the credits were earned at a post-secondary institution.
If a pupil enrolls in a post-secondary institution after leaving secondary school, the post-secondary institution shall award post-secondary credit for any course successfully completed for secondary credit at that institution. Other post-secondary institutions may award, after a pupil leaves secondary school, post-secondary credit for any courses successfully completed under this chapter. An institution may not charge a pupil for the award of credit.
Section 59-142-100. At the end of each school year, the State Department of Education shall pay the tuition reimbursement amount within thirty days to the post-secondary institutions for courses that were taken for secondary credit. The amount of tuition reimbursement shall equal the lessor of:
(1) the actual costs of tuition, textbooks, materials, and fees directly related to the course taken by the secondary pupil; or
(2) an amount equal to the difference between the basic revenue of the district for that pupil and an amount computed by multiplying the basic revenue of the district for that pupil by a ratio. The ratio to be used is the total number of hours that the pupil is enrolled in courses in the secondary school during the regular school year over the total number of secondary instructional hours per pupil in that pupil's resident district.
The amount paid for each pupil is subtracted from the general education aid paid to the pupil's district of attendance. If the amount to be subtracted is greater than the amount of general education aid due the district, the excess reduction is made from other state aids due to the district. If a pupil is enrolled in a course for post-secondary credit, the school district shall include the pupil in the average daily membership only for the portion of time during which the pupil is enrolled in courses at the secondary school and enrolled in courses at a post-secondary institution for secondary credit.
The department shall not pay any tuition reimbursement or other costs of a course taken for post-secondary credit only.
Section 59-142-110. A pupil enrolled in a post-secondary course for secondary credit is not eligible for any state student financial aid under any provision of law of this State.
Section 59-142-120. At the end of each school year, the State Department of Education shall pay the tuition reimbursement amount to the post-secondary institutions for courses taken to fulfill high school graduation requirements by pupils eligible for adult high school graduation aid. The amount of the tuition reimbursement equals the lessor of:
(1) the actual costs of tuition, textbooks, materials, and fees directly related to the course or program taken by the pupil; or
(2) an amount equal to the difference between the adult high school graduation aid attributable to that pupil and an amount computed by multiplying the adult high school graduation aid by the ratio of the total number of hours that the pupil is enrolled in courses in the secondary school during the regular school year over the total number of secondary instructional hours per pupil in that pupil's resident district.
The amount of tuition reimbursement paid for each pupil is subtracted from the adult high school graduation aid paid to the pupil's district of attendance. If a pupil is enrolled in a course for post-secondary credit, the school district shall include the pupil in the appropriate computation of average daily membership only for the portion of time during which the pupil is enrolled in courses at the secondary school and enrolled in courses at the post-secondary institution for secondary credit.
The department must not pay any tuition reimbursement or other costs of a course taken for post-secondary credit only.
Section 59-142-130. A post-secondary institution that receives reimbursement for a pupil under Section 59-142-100 may not charge that pupil for fees, textbooks, materials, or other necessary costs of the course or program in which the pupil is enrolled if the charge would be prohibited under any provision of law of this State, except for equipment purchased by the pupil that becomes the property of the pupil. An institution may require the pupil to pay for fees, textbooks, and materials for a course taken for post-secondary credit.
Section 59-142-140. All textbooks and equipment provided to a pupil, and paid for under Section 59-142-100, are the property of the pupil's school district of residence. Each pupil is required to return all textbooks and equipment to the school district after the course has ended.
Section 59-142-150. A parent or guardian of a pupil enrolled in a course for secondary credit may apply to the pupil's district of residence for reimbursement for transporting the pupil between the secondary school in which the pupil is enrolled and the post-secondary institution that the pupil attends. The State Department of Education shall establish guidelines for providing state aid to districts to reimburse the parent or guardian for the necessary transportation costs, which is based on financial need. The State shall pay aid to the district according to the guidelines established under this section.
Section 59-142-160. The provisions of Sections 59-142-100, 59-142-130, and 59-142-150 shall not apply for any post-secondary courses in which a pupil is enrolled in addition to being enrolled full time in that pupil's district or for any post-secondary course in which a pupil is enrolled for post-secondary credit. The pupil is enrolled full time if the pupil attends credit-bearing classes in the high school or high school program for all of the available hours of instruction."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.