1. Legislative Update April 17, 2012

2. Tuition Tax Credits Vouchers and Tuition Tax Credits (H.4894/H.4576/H.4547/S1325) Passed House on 3/28/12 Plan could cost $37 million State income tax deduction of up to $4,000 for tuition paid by the parent or legal guardian for child to attend an independent school State income tax deduction of up to $1,000 for tuition paid by parent or legal guardian for child to attend public school outside of their resident district State income tax deduction of up to $2,000 per home school student Dollar for dollar state income tax credit, insurance premium taxes, or bank license fees for contributions made to non-profit scholarship funding organizations that would provide ‘grants’ to eligible students to attend a qualifying independent school

3. Bus Privatization SC School Bus Decentralization Act (H.4610) Date moved up to July 1, 2013 for transferring bus service Date moved up to June 30, 2013 for transferring bus maintenance facilities Districts must issue Request for Proposal after June 30, 2012 but before July 1, 2013 State Department of Education can grant delay for implemenation for individual Districts for up to a year Adopted timeline to ensure that after June 2018 District owned buses used in South Carolina are less than twelve years old Private carriers purchasing state owned buses may buy buses from South Carolina up to fifteen years old Districts using private carriers can negotiate separate charges for special needs students, field trips, athletic events

4. South Carolina Public Schools are Succeeding!  Leadership Aiken County ‘Great Ideas’ Education Endowment Partner with Public Education Partners and Aiken Technical College Goal to raise $25,000 Grants of $500 to teachers with ‘Great Ideas’ Scholarships for high school students