South Carolina General Assembly
114th Session, 2001-2002

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Bill 3534


Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)


Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

COMMITTEE AMENDEMENT ADOPTED

May 1, 2001

    H. 3534

Introduced by Rep. Townsend

S. Printed 5/01/01--S.

Read the first time March 22, 2001.

            

   

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 59-101-280, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES EMPHASIZING TEACHING AS A CAREER OPPORTUNITY, SO AS TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THE MANNER IN WHICH THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE IMPLEMENTED, AND FOR THE CONTENT OF TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-18-310, RELATING TO THE STATEWIDE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM TO MEASURE STUDENT PERFORMANCE UNDER THE EDUCATION ACCOUNTABILITY ACT, SO AS TO DELETE THE REQUIREMENT THAT A STANDARDS BASED ASSESSMENT WILL BE DEVELOPED FOR GRADES ONE AND TWO FOR USE BY SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS AS DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY THE DISTRICT OFFICIALS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-18-1930, RELATING TO THE EDUCATION OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE'S REVIEW OF STATE AND LOCAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT IN THE STANDARDS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL DEVELOP AN ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM TO ENSURE THAT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT ARE IMPLEMENTED, AND PROVIDE FOR THE MANNER OF IMPLEMENTATION.

    Amend Title To Conform

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

SECTION    1.    Section 59-101-280 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

    "Section 59-101-280.    Acting through guidelines adopted by the Commission on Higher Education, the publicly supported colleges Colleges and universities of this State shall emphasize teaching as a career opportunity and develop programs providing those institutions with teacher education programs should make the preparation of teachers a fundamental part of the institution's mission. These colleges and universities should allocate resources appropriate for support of this mission, support of professional development programs for practicing teachers and teacher education faculties to include technology training. Greater attention should be given to attracting diversity in race and ethnicity in faculties and students. Opportunities also should be developed to provide students interested in a teaching career with opportunities to tutor other students. All teacher education programs should strengthen alliances with K-12 education to increase the clinical opportunities for their students and to become more responsive to the needs of practicing teachers. Closer alliances also should be established with the business community and should integrate critical workforce skills into content and methods courses. Teacher education faculties should provide teacher candidates with a variety of effective teaching practices to ensure the state's diverse student population achieve at high levels of learning."

SECTION    2.    Section 59-18-310(B) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 400 of 1998, is amended to read:

    "(B)    The statewide assessment program in the four academic areas shall include grades three through eight, an exit examination which is to be first administered in grade ten, and end of course tests for gateway courses in English/language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies for grades nine through twelve. A standards based assessment will be developed for grades one and two for use by schools and districts as deemed appropriate by the district officials."

SECTION    3.    Section 59-18-1930 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 400 of 1998, is amended to read:

    "Section 59-18-1930.    The Education Oversight Committee shall provide for a comprehensive review of state and local professional development to include principal leadership development and teacher staff development. The review must provide an analysis of training to include what professional development is offered, how it is offered, the support given to implement skills acquired from professional development, and how the professional development enhances the academic goals outlined in district and school strategic plans. The oversight committee shall recommend better ways to provide and meet the needs for professional development, to include the use of the existing five contract days for in service. Needed revisions shall be made to state regulations to promote use of state dollars for training which meets national standards for staff development.

    Upon receipt of the recommendations from the comprehensive review of state and local professional development, the State Department of Education shall develop an accountability system to ensure that identified professional development standards are effectively implemented. As part of this system the department shall provide information on the identified standards to all principals and other professional development leaders. Training for all school districts in how to design comprehensive professional development programs that are consistent with the standards shall also be a part of the implementation. A variety of staff development options that address effective teaching and assessment of state academic standards and workforce preparation skills shall be included in the information provided to principals and other professional development leaders to ensure high levels of student achievement."

SECTION    4.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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