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H. 3701

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Hinson, Merrill, Lloyd, Dantzler, Frye, Gourdine, Koon, Neilson, Parks, M.A. Pitts, Toole, Umphlett, Walker and Altman
Document Path: l:\council\bills\ggs\22852sl03.doc
Companion/Similar bill(s): 530

Introduced in the House on February 26, 2003
Introduced in the Senate on May 22, 2003
Last Amended on May 7, 2003
Currently residing in the Senate

Summary: Character education as conduct grade in public schools

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   2/26/2003  House   Introduced and read first time HJ-116
   2/26/2003  House   Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works 
                        HJ-116
    4/2/2003  House   Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Altman
    5/1/2003  House   Committee report: Favorable with amendment Education and 
                        Public Works HJ-2
    5/7/2003  House   Amended HJ-19
    5/7/2003  House   Debate interrupted HJ-23
    5/7/2003  House   Requests for debate-Rep(s). Walker, Townsend, Scott, 
                        Hinson, Pinson, Gilham, Ceips, Herbkersman, Lloyd, 
                        Kennedy, Clyburn, Bales, Thompson, Neilson, JE Brown, 
                        JH Neal,  Merrill, Rhoad, Skelton, J Hines, Perry, 
                        Duncan, Altman, Anthony, Miller, Battle, Jennings, 
                        Breeland, Mack, R Brown, Viers, Hamilton, Leach, 
                        Mahaffey and Whipper HJ-25
    5/7/2003  House   Debate adjourned until Thursday, May 8, 2003 HJ-46
    5/7/2003  House   Member(s) request name removed as sponsor: Mahaffey
    5/8/2003  House   Debate adjourned until Tuesday, May 13, 2003 HJ-106
   5/14/2003  House   Read second time HJ-25
   5/14/2003  House   Roll call Yeas-94  Nays-5 HJ-25
   5/15/2003  House   Motion noted--reconsider the vote whereby read second 
                        time HJ-20
   5/15/2003  House   Debate adjourned on motion to reconsider until 
                        Wednesday, May 21, 2003 HJ-42
   5/21/2003  House   Motion to reconsider tabled HJ-48
   5/21/2003  House   Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-49
   5/22/2003  Senate  Introduced and read first time SJ-8
   5/22/2003  Senate  Referred to Committee on Education SJ-8
    6/3/2003  Senate  Recalled from Committee on Education SJ-28

View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

2/26/2003
5/1/2003
5/7/2003
5/14/2003
6/3/2003

RECALLED

June 3, 2003

H. 3701

Introduced by Reps. Hinson, Merrill, Lloyd, Dantzler, Frye, Gourdine, Koon, Neilson, Parks, M.A. Pitts, Toole, Altman, Umphlett and Walker

S. Printed 6/3/03--S.

Read the first time May 22, 2003.

TO AMEND SECTION 59-17-135, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO CHARACTER EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A TEACHER IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL OF THIS STATE SHALL INDICATE A LETTER GRADE AND COMMENTS ON A STUDENT'S REPORT CARD UNDER THE SUBJECT HEADING OF "CONDUCT" AS AN ASSESSMENT OF HOW THE STUDENT EXPRESSES CERTAIN CHARACTERISTICS.

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

SECTION    1.    Section 59-17-135 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 4 of 2001, is amended by adding appropriately lettered subsections at the end to read:

"( )    Each teacher in a public school of this State shall indicate a conduct grade on a student's report card for each subject taught. However, if a teacher provides instruction in more than one subject to the same student, an overall conduct grade may be issued. Conduct grades must be indicated by the letter 'S' for satisfactory, 'N' for needs improvement, or 'U' for unsatisfactory. If a student receives a letter grade of 'N' or 'U', a teacher comment must be provided as an explanation of the grade. Comments for a student receiving a letter grade of 'S' are optional. Conduct grades are intended to provide parents or guardians with an assessment of student behavior and must not be included as part of a student's transcript.

( )    A school or district with a conduct grading program in place may have the program reviewed by the State Department of Education, Office of Character Education to determine whether the program meets the intent of this section. If a determination is made that the intent is met, the Office of Character Education may grant permission for continuation of the current program."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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