1. Legislative Update
March 27, 2012

2. Charter School Act Charter School Act (H.3241)
Approved by Senate on March 21, 2012
Majority vote of school board to convert to charter if school has general obligation debt
Two-thirds vote of local board to convert to charter school if school carries debt approved by referendum
Funding based on school’s previous two-year weighted pupil unit
Charter school students can participate in any excurricular activities offered at their resident public school if not offered at the student’s charter school
Non-concurrence by House on March 22, 2012
Senate appointed conference committee on March 22, 2012

3. Tuition Tax Credits
Vouchers and Tuition Tax Credits (H.4894/H.4576/H.4547)
House floor debate expected soon
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

4. Tax Reform Bills Bills filed for comprehensive state tax reform
Bills referred to House Ways and Means Committee
House subcommittee hearings will begin this week
Bills include:
Bill to reduce property tax for manufacturing and business personnel property
Bill to flatten state income tax
Bill to eliminate selected sales tax exemptions
Bill to reduce income tax rates for business
Bill to lower personnel income tax brackets
Bill to reduce assessment ratio on commercial property from six to five percent
Bill to eliminate corporate income tax

5. South Carolina Public Schools are Succeeding!
28 Aiken County Public Schools earned 32 Palmetto Gold and Silver Awards for Academic Achievement and Closing the Achievement Gap
Double the number of Aiken County Public Schools received awards than last year
North Augusta Middle, Kennedy Middle, Aiken Elementary, and Hammond Hill Elementary received both awards