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TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING CHAPTER 16 TO TITLE 59 SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE SOUTH CAROLINA VIRTUAL CHARTER SCHOOL DISTRICT, PROVIDE THAT IT MUST BE GOVERNED BY A BOARD OF TRUSTEES, PROVIDE ITS POWERS AND DUTIES, PROVIDE FOR THE STUDENTS' SUPERVISION AND THE STUDENTS' DUTIES, PROVIDE FOR THE DISTRICT'S TEACHERS AND FUNDING, PROVIDE A TAX CREDIT FOR AN INDIVIDUAL OR A CORPORATION THAT MAKES A DONATION TO THE DISTRICT, PROVIDE THAT THE DISTRICT MAY NOT LEVY ADDITIONAL TAXES OR ISSUE BONDS WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND PROVIDE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE DISTRICT MAY PROMULGATE REGULATIONS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
Section 59-16-10. (A) The South Carolina Virtual Charter School District is established for the development and delivery of on-line and distance learning education.
(B) The mission of the South Carolina Virtual Charter School District is to provide students with technology-based educational opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed. The program established pursuant to this chapter requires a high level of parental participation and a sincere commitment from the students to allow continued participation in the program.
(C) The boundaries of the South Carolina Virtual Charter School District are the boundaries of the State.
(D) As used in this chapter, 'district' means the South Carolina Virtual Charter School District.
Section 59-16-20. (A) The South Carolina Virtual Charter School District must be governed by a board of trustees comprised of seven members:
(1) three must be appointed by the Governor;
(2) two must be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and
(3) two must be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
(B) The terms of the members must be for three years, except that the initial terms of the members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives must be for one year, and the initial terms of the members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate must be for two years. Each member shall serve until his successor qualifies. A vacancy must be filled in the manner of the original appointment. The board shall elect a chairman and other officers it determines necessary from among its membership.
(C) The board shall report annually to the General Assembly. The report must include the school district's status on financing, success of the students, overall status of the district, approved course curriculum, and other information pertinent to the long-term direction of the virtual charter school program.
Section 59-16-30. The district shall:
(1) ensure the availability of its programs to students of the State, including students in all geographic areas and students of all races;
(2) provide the students with the necessary software and hardware along with internet connections to ensure that students of all economic environments have an equal opportunity to participate in the virtual charter school;
(3) accept students with special needs, students who have been disruptive and have been removed from their traditional school setting, students with a traditional course of study, and students wishing to excel and take advanced placement courses to supplement their school curriculum; and
(4) hire highly qualified teachers who still want to teach, but wish to get out of the traditional classroom setting.
Section 59-16-40. Students of the school district must be supervised by a parent, guardian, or another authorized adult to ensure that a high quality of effort and accountability are maintained by each student. Students may learn at home, in a small classroom setting, while traveling, or in another setting that is conducive to learning.
Section 59-16-50. Students of the school district shall:
(1) meet the minimum number of instructional days;
(2) pass exams, progress tests, and other tests to meet the state standards as established by the General Assembly; and
(3) participate in group and extracurricular activities as approved by the school district.
Section 59-16-60. The district may be penalized six hundred dollars for failure to advance a student to the next grade level after one school year if the failure to advance was not for a reason approved by the board of trustees of the school district.
Section 59-16-70. Teachers hired by the district may teach from any location they choose and must be available for student instruction on a student-need basis to help the students proceed at their own pace.
Section 59-16-80. The district must be funded by the State on an FTE basis and may receive other funds from federal or state grants, private or corporate donations, or other sources that may be available.
Section 59-16-90. An individual or corporation making a donation to the district shall receive a tax credit equal to one hundred percent of the donation.
Section 59-16-100. The district may not levy additional taxes or issue bonds without the approval of the General Assembly.
Section 59-16-110. The board of trustees of the school district may promulgate regulations to carry out the provisions of this chapter and the administration of the South Carolina Virtual Charter School District."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
This web page was last updated on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at 2:18 P.M.