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Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
AS PASSED BY THE SENATE
May 2, 2001
H. 3534
S. Printed 5/02/01--S.
Read the first time March 22, 2001.
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 59-111-20(A) of the 1976 Code, as amended by Act 151 of 1993, is further amended to read:
"(A) A child of a wartime veteran, upon application to and approval by the South Carolina Department of Veterans Affairs, may be admitted to any state-supported college, university, or post high school technical education institution free of tuition so long as his work and conduct is satisfactory to the governing body of the institution, if the veteran was a resident of this State at the time of entry into service and during service or has been a resident of this State for at least one year and still resides in this State or, if the veteran is deceased, resided in this State for one year before his death, and provided the veteran served honorably in a branch of the military service of the United States during a war period, as those periods are defined by Section 101 of Title 38 of the United States Code and:
(1) was killed in action;
(2) died from other causes while in the service;
(3) died of disease or disability resulting from service;
(4) was a prisoner of war as defined by Congress or Presidential proclamation during such war period;
(5) is permanently and totally disabled, as determined by the Veterans Administration from any cause;
(6) has been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor;
(7) is missing in action; or
(8) the applicant is the child of a deceased veteran who qualified under items (4) and (5); or
(9) has been awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in combat."
SECTION 3. 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 4. 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 5. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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