Current Status Bill Number:3856 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:House Introduced Date:19950323 Primary Sponsor:Townsend All Sponsors:Townsend and Allison Drafted Document Number:GJK\21522SD.95 Residing Body:Senate Current Committee:Education Committee 04 SED Subject:School administrators, teachers
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved
______ ________ _______________________________________ _______ ____________
Senate 19950525 Introduced, read first time, 04 SED
referred to Committee
House 19950525 Read third time, sent to Senate
House 19950524 Read second time
House 19950523 Debate adjourned until
Wednesday, 19950524
House 19950518 Committee report: Favorable 21 HEPW
House 19950323 Introduced, read first time, 21 HEPW
referred to Committee
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Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
COMMITTEE REPORT
May 18, 1995
H. 3856
S. Printed 5/18/95--H.
Read the first time March 23, 1995.
To whom was referred a Bill (H. 3856), to amend Section 59-24-10, as amended, and Sections 59-24-30 and 59-24-40, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, etc., respectfully
That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:
RONALD P. TOWNSEND, for Committee.
TO AMEND SECTION 59-24-10, AS AMENDED, AND SECTIONS 59-24-30 AND 59-24-40, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO PERFORMANCE AND LEADERSHIP ASSESSMENTS AND STANDARDS FOR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, SO AS TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THESE ASSESSMENTS AND STANDARDS AND TO PROVIDE FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS AND EVALUATION PROCEDURES FOR THESE ADMINISTRATORS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 59-3-90, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO IN-SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR TEACHERS, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR TEACHERS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 59-24-10 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 85 of 1987, is further amended to read:
"Section 59-24-10. Beginning with the school year 1985-86, any person being considered for appointment as a principal for any elementary or secondary school must be assessed for his instructional leadership and management capabilities by the Assessment Center of the South Carolina Department of Education, and a written report of the assessment must be forwarded to the board of trustees of the district before the appointment is made. The provisions of this section do not apply to any persons currently employed as principals on the effective date of the South Carolina Education Improvement Act of 1984 nor to any persons hired as principals before the beginning of school year 1985-86.
The State Department of Education shall provide facilities for assessment, monitor the utilization of those assessed, and present an annual report to the Select Committee on:
(1) the number of prospective principals assessed;
(2) their assignment to the principalship;
(3) the potential of the assessment program for improving school administration.
Beginning with the school year 1995-96, any person appointed as a principal for any elementary school, secondary school, or vocational center must be assessed for instructional leadership and management capabilities by the Assessment Center of South Carolina Department of Education and a personal professional development plan constructed on the basis of that assessment prior to or within one year of the date such appointment is made. A report of this assessment must be forwarded to the district superintendent. The provisions of this section do not apply to any persons currently employed as principals on the effective date of this act nor to any persons hired as principals before the beginning of school year 1995-96."
SECTION 2. Section 59-24-30 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 59-24-30. All school superintendents and principals must successfully participate every two years in at least one seminar designed to provide training in improving administrative skills and instructional leadership. This seminar must receive prior approval by the State Board of Education.
All school administrators must develop annually or update an individual professional development plan which is appropriate for their role or position. This plan shall support both their individual growth and organizational needs. Organizational needs must be defined by the districts' strategic plans or school renewal plans. The Department of Education shall assist school administrators by providing or brokering programs and services in the area of professional development."
SECTION 3. Section 59-24-40 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 59-24-40. The State Board of Education shall adopt criteria and minimum statewide performance standards for the evaluation of all principals. The State Department of Education shall select or cause to be developed and the State Board of Education shall adopt the evaluation instruments necessary to measure the satisfactory minimum performance of all principals based on those criteria and standards. School districts shall use the instruments, standards, and procedures adopted by the State Board of Education for the purpose of evaluating all principals at least once every three years. The State Department of Education shall ensure that instruments and standards are appropriately administered by validating that the evaluations have been conducted as required. The validation of evaluations must be conducted so that approximately one-fourth of the validations are conducted each year. Nothing in this section limits or prohibits school districts from setting additional and more stringent standards for the evaluation of principals. A satisfactory rating on the evaluation is one of several criteria for overall performance evaluation and is not sufficient for reemployment as a principal by a school district.
Any principal whose performance on an evaluation is rated unsatisfactory shall complete a training program approved by the State Board of Education and conducted by the South Carolina Department of Education's Leadership Academy or the local school district. Training conducted by the academy must be provided at no cost to the local school districts. One year after a principal completes a training program his performance must be evaluated and validated in accordance with the provisions of this section.
The provisions of this section must be implemented according to the following schedule:
1984-85 Identification of criteria
1985-86 Development and testing of instruments, procedures, and standards in selected districts
1986-87 Field testing of instruments, procedures, and standards in selected districts
1987-88 Statewide implementation.
Evaluation of the school superintendents shall be the responsibility of the governing board of the local school districts. Evaluation of all other school administrators shall be the responsibility of the superintendent or his designee. Evaluation of school administrators, in part, shall be related to their individual professional development plan and the successful implementation of either the district strategic plan or school renewal plan.
The State Board of Education, through the Department of Education, shall develop guidelines to assist and provide services to districts regarding evaluation of school administrators."
SECTION 4. Section 59-3-90 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 135 of 1993, is further amended to read:
"Section 59-3-90. The State Department of Education shall provide recommendations and assist districts in conducting in-service training programs for teachers based on the findings and research it derives from the study of effective schools and classrooms and from district plans developed in accordance with Section 59-139-10. All of the school districts of this State must have implemented an on-going, long-range professional development training program in support of effective schools and classrooms and as indicated by district plans no later than the 1994-95 school year.
All teachers must annually develop and participate in an individual professional development plan which is appropriate for their contract level. This plan shall support both their individual growth and organizational needs. Organizational needs must be defined by the districts' strategic plans or school renewal plans."
SECTION 5. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.