Legislative Update March 12, 2013

FY2013-2014 Budget House Ways and Means Committee version of budget complete (3/7/13) Base Student Cost of about $2,101, up from current $2,012, below $2,771 statutorily required Proviso requiring teacher salary step increase No funding for School Resource Officers Full House debate week of March 11th Estimated impact of sequestration is 5% across-the board cuts from Federal Fiscal Year 2012 funding levels

Joint Resolutions Resolution extending time to extend teacher contracts from April 15th to May 15th Resolution 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

Local Legislation Election districts - Kershaw County School Board (S.0379) Signed by Governor 3/1/13 Taxing authority given to Jasper County School Board (S.0358) Resides in Senate 2/19/13

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) Reported out favorably by the Senate K-12 Education Committee (2/27/13) 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 Education Committee

High School League (H.3229) Bill in Full House for debate week of March 11th 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

Freedom of Information Act (H.3163) Reported out favorably by the House Judiciary Committee (2/27/13) Amendment to establish FOIA office within the Administrative Law Court Amendment to allow reasonable fees to process request Amendment to establish ten day rule for response to requests Bill moves to the full House for debate on March 19th

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 2013-2014 Supplied by city and county governments District pays cost using state allocation Cost estimate - $80 million

Aiken County Schools are Succeeding! Ms. Lisa Raiford named finalist for South Carolina Teacher of the Year Hammond Hill Elementary School named finalist for Palmetto’s Finest 2013 award