1. Legislative Update April 16, 2013

2. FY2013-2014 Budget  Budget in Senate Finance Subcommittee (3/15/13) Budget passed full House on 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

3. Joint Resolutions  Resolution (H.3453) extending time to extend teacher contracts from April 15 th to May 15 th Amended in Senate to change Deadline to May 5 th 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

4. Parent Empowerment Act (S.0556)  Resides in Senate K-12 Subcommittee (3/20/13) Parents have ability to assume control of an “at-risk” school Parents representing 51% of students can: Convert school to (1) charter school, (2) turnaround model, (3) restart model, or (4) transformational model Replace some of school’s administration Close school Turnaround model – Principal replaced and school staff screened with no more than 50% rehired Restart model – Convert school to a charter school or close and reopen under charter school operator Transformational Model – District implements strategies that include developing and increasing teacher and school leader effectiveness, instructional reform, increasing community involvement

5. SC Read to Succeed (S.0516)  Resides in Senate K-12 Subcommittee (3/12/13) Students not reading on grade level at the end of the third grade would be retained 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

6. 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

7. School Choice (S.0313)  Bill in the full Senate for debate (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

8. High School League (H.3229)  Resides in Senate K-12 Subcommittee (3/20/13) Bill passed full House on 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

9. Freedom of Information Act (H.3163)  Resides in House Judiciary Committee (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

10. 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

11. Aiken County Schools are Succeeding!  Twenty Aiken County Schools earn Palmetto Gold (13) and Silver (11) Awards for General Performance and Closing the Achievement Gap  Four Aiken County Schools received both Awards  Aiken Elementary  Chukker Creek Elementary  Kennedy Middle  Schofield Middle