1. Legislative Update
March 12, 2013

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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)
– 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
Bill moves to the full Senate Education Committee

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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
Cost estimate - $80 million

10. 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