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S. 534

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Senators Richardson, Ryberg, Mescher, Ritchie, Cromer, Hayes and Cleary
Document Path: l:\council\bills\pt\2382sj05.doc

Introduced in the Senate on February 24, 2005
Currently residing in the Senate Committee on Education

Summary: School days make-up requirements

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
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   2/24/2005  Senate  Introduced and read first time SJ-6
   2/24/2005  Senate  Referred to Committee on Education SJ-6

View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

2/24/2005

TO AMEND SECTION 59-1-430, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO MAKE-UP DAYS IN A SCHOOL TERM, SO AS TO DELETE THE PORTION ALLOWING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO WAIVE THE REQUIREMENTS OF MAKING UP MISSED DAYS OR TO AUTHORIZE THE SCHOOL BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO FORGIVE UP TO THREE DAYS MISSED BECAUSE OF SNOW, EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS, OR OTHER DISRUPTIONS REQUIRING SCHOOLS TO CLOSE; AND TO AMEND SECTION 59-1-420, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE LENGTH OF THE SCHOOL TERM, SO AS TO DELETE A REFERENCE TO THE WAIVER.

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

SECTION    1.    Section 59-1-430 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 89 of 2003, is further amended to read:

"Section 59-1-430.    (A)    Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, all school days missed because of snow, extreme weather conditions, or other disruptions requiring schools to close must be made up. All school districts shall designate annually at least three days within their school calendars to be used as make-up days in the event of these occurrences. If those designated days have been used or are no longer available, the local school board of trustees may lengthen the hours of school operation by no less than one hour per day for the total number of hours missed or operate schools on Saturday. Schools operating on a four-by-four block schedule shall make every effort to make up the time during the semester in which the days are missed. A plan to make up days by lengthening the school day must be approved by the State Department of Education before implementation. Tutorial instruction for grades 7 through 12 may be taught on Saturday at the direction of the local school board. If a local school board authorizes make-up days on Saturdays, tutorial instruction normally offered on Saturday for seventh through twelfth graders must be scheduled at an alternative time.

(B)    The General Assembly may introduce legislation to waive the requirements of making up missed days or, through legislation, may authorize the school board of trustees to forgive up to three days missed because of snow, extreme weather conditions, or other disruptions requiring schools to close. A waiver granted by the local board of trustees of the requirement for making up missed days also must be authorized through a majority vote of the local school board."

SECTION    2.    Section 59-1-420(A) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 89 of 2003, is further amended to read:

"(A)    Beginning with school year 2000-2001, the statutory school term is one hundred ninety days annually and at least one hundred eighty days must be used for student instruction, except as provided in Section 59-1-430(B). Of the remaining ten days, no more than two days may be used for preparation of opening of schools. Three days must be used for collegial professional development based upon the educational standards as required by Section 59-18-300 of the Education Accountability Act. The professional development shall address, at a minimum, academic achievement standards including strengthening teachers' knowledge in their content area, teaching techniques, and assessment. The remaining five days may be used for teacher planning, academic plans, and parent conferences."

SECTION    3.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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