Legislative Update February 26, 2013

FY Budget  House Ways and Means Version of Budget K-12 to receive $175 million increase, including $56.4 million to Education Finance Act (EFA) Base Student Cost of about $2,068, up from current $2,012

Tuition Tax Credits / Vouchers (S.279)  Resides in Senate Committee on Finance (1/23/13) Similar to Bill that died in Senate in 2012 Plan could cost $36 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, $1,000 for tuition paid by parent or legal guardian for child to attend public school outside of their resident district, $2,000 per home school student Tax credits (sixty percent of taxpayers liability) for contributions made to non-profit scholarship funding organizations that would provide ‘grants’ to eligible students to attend a qualifying independent school ‘Accountability’ provision includes requirement for all students be administered national achievement or state standardized tests

School Choice (S.313)  Resides in Senate Committee on Finance (1/30/13) Districts, over a three year period, have to provide education program choices (i.e., public charter schools, vitural school programs, single gender, magnet schools) – State Department of Education establish program and develop open enrollment pilot program – Districts convene school choice committee to develop plan – Districts begin implementation of school choice program – Districts develop plans for Open Enrollment – Parents may enroll child in any public school in state without paying tuition District Board adopts policies for individual school capacities, standards of approval, priority of acceptance Transportation is responsibility of parent

High School League (H.3229)  Reported out favorably by the House Committee on Education and Public Works (2/21/13) Establishes Office of Interscholastic Athletics within State Department of Education Amendment to establish a thirteen member advisory committee and thirteen member appeals committee appointed by State Superintendent of Education Amendment to establish office within the State Department of Education for athletics  Bill moves to the full House

Freedom of Information Act (H.3163)  Resides in full House Judiciary Committee (2/6/13) Amendment to establish ten day rule for response to requests Amendment to establish FOIA office within the Administrative Law Court Amendment to allow reasonable fees to process request

School Security (S.249)  Resides in Senate Committee on Finance (1/16/13) Require a state-funded school resource officer in each school Start in Supplied by city and county governments District pays cost using state allocation

Aiken County Schools are Succeeding! Find the Good and Praise It! Alex Haley