Current Status Bill Number:3234 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:House Introduced Date:19950111 Primary Sponsor:J. Brown All Sponsors:J. Brown, Inabinett, Canty and Scott Drafted Document Number:GJK\21180SD.95 Residing Body:House Current Committee:Education and Public Works Committee 21 HEPW Subject:Suspended students, alternative education programs
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved
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House 19950111 Introduced, read first time, 21 HEPW
referred to Committee
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TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-63-215 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR SPECIFIED DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE GOVERNING BOARD OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT IN REGARD TO CERTAIN SUSPENDED OR EXPELLED STUDENTS INCLUDING A REQUIREMENT FOR ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR THESE STUDENTS; TO PROVIDE FOR WAIVERS AND EXCEPTIONS THERETO; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION IN REGARD TO THE ABOVE.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 59-63-215. (A) Beginning with the 1995-96 school year, and except as otherwise provided by subsection (B), any student suspended or expelled from school pursuant to the provisions of Section 59-63-210 shall remain under the supervision of the governing board of the school district which shall take such action using alternative education programs for suspended and expelled students as is approved by the State Department of Education.
(B) (1) Any school district unable to comply with the provisions of subsection (A) for economically justifiable reasons as defined by the State Department of Education may apply to the department on a school year to school year basis for a waiver from the requirements of these provisions.
(2) The State Department of Education shall take under review and consideration any request for such a waiver. However, no approval shall be granted by the department until the State Superintendent of Education has certified the accuracy and validity of the information submitted to justify the request.
(C) For purposes of this section, alternative education programs mean programs designed to offer variations of traditional instructional programs and strategies for the purpose of increasing the likelihood that students who are unmotivated or unsuccessful in traditional programs or who are disruptive in the traditional school environment remain in school and obtain a high school diploma. Alternative programs may include, but are not limited to, programs that hold students to strict standards of behavior in highly structured and controlled environments.
(D) The State Department of Education shall adopt the necessary regulations to provide for the implementation of the provisions of this section."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.