Legislative Update March 26, 2013

FY2013-2014 Budget Budget passed full House (3/15/13) Base Student Cost of $2,101, up from current $2,012, below $2,771 statutorily required Proviso requiring teacher salary step increase No funding for School Resource Officers Budget to Senate for consideration

Joint Resolutions Resolution (H.3453) extending time to extend teacher contracts from April 15th to May 15th Amended in Senate to change Deadline to May 5th House did not agree, stalled in Senate Resolution (S.0053) to propose amendment to state constitution that State Superintendent of Education no longer be elected, but be appointed by the governor with consent of Senate Failed Senate on third reading, back to contested calendar

SC School Bus Decentralization Act (H.4610) Nine member bus transition study committee Meet in the interim Report back to General Assembly by 1/1/13 House budget includes $ 10.5 million for bus acquisition and maintenance South Carolina still in bus business

SC Read to Succeed (S.0516) Resides in Senate Committee on Education (3/12/13) Students not reading on grade level at the end of the third grade would be held back for reading instruction Students would do summer work or get intensive reading instruction the following school year Teachers would also be required to do training Children in kindergarten would receive a reading-readiness test before entering school to identify learning barriers The bill would be paid for by a portion of $6 million set aside for reading improvement

Tuition Tax Credits / Vouchers (S.0279) 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.0313) Reported out favorably by the full Senate Education Committee (3/20/13) Districts, over a three year period, have to provide education program choices (i.e., public charter schools, vitural school programs, single gender, magnet schools) 2013-2014 – State Department of Education establish program and develop open enrollment pilot program 2013-2014 – Districts convene school choice committee to develop plan 2014-2015 – Districts begin implementation of school choice program 2014-2015 – Districts develop plans for Open Enrollment 2015-2016 – 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 Bill moves to the full Senate for debate

High School League (H.3229) Bill passed full House on March 20th(3/20/13) Amendment to leave High School League intact Amendment to require independent appeals panel Amendment to improvement state-wide representation in High School League Bill moves to Senate Education Committee

Freedom of Information Act (H.3163) Bill debated in full House (3/20/13) Amendment to end Legislative Exemption Concern from constituents about personal information becomming available through Act House does not have staff to comply with Act Bill moves back to House Judiciary Committee to resolve issues

School Security (S.0249) Resides in Senate Committee on Finance (1/16/13) Require a state-funded School Resource Officer in each school Start in 2013-2014 Supplied by city and county governments District pays cost using state allocation Cost estimate - $80 million

Aiken County Schools are Succeeding! Aiken Performing Arts Group donated musical instruments to Byrd Elementary Instruments in Your Attic filled needs of 3 elementary, 4 middle, 2 high schools just this year