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Bill 1089

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                      1089
Type of Legislation:              General Bill GB
Introducing Body:                 Senate
Introduced Date:                  20000201
Primary Sponsor:                  Bryan
All Sponsors:                     Bryan, O'Dell, Bauer, Short, Branton, 
                                  Courtney, Martin, Giese, Courson, Hutto, 
                                  Moore, Anderson, Patterson, Wilson, Thomas, 
                                  Setzler, Glover, Matthews, Reese, Waldrep and 
                                  Alexander
Drafted Document Number:          l:\council\bills\gjk\20900sd00.doc
Residing Body:                    Senate
Current Committee:                Education Committee 04 SED
Subject:                          School districts, term of schools; grant 
                                  program to modify or extend school year 
                                  schedules; Attendance


                        History

Body    Date      Action Description                     Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  ______________________________________ _______ ____________
Senate  20000201  Introduced, read first time,           04 SED
                  referred to Committee


              Versions of This Bill

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-5-200 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION SHALL ESTABLISH A GRANT PROGRAM FOR THE PURPOSE OF HAVING SCHOOL DISTRICTS PILOT TEST OR IMPLEMENT MODIFIED OR EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR SCHEDULES, AND TO PROVIDE THE PROCEDURES NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE ABOVE PROVISIONS.

Whereas, South Carolina is committed to improving the quality of education for the students of this State and has raised the academic standards expected of all students; and

Whereas, the traditional school day and year must now accommodate not only academic learning but also other education areas such as personal safety and traditional nonacademic activities; and

Whereas, time constraints are cited by educators as a major barrier to education reform and student learning; and

Whereas, research indicates that well planned and well implemented year-round education programs can increase student achievement; and

Whereas, schools must have the flexibility to adjust scheduling so that the education needs of their students are being met. Now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-5-200. (A) The State Board of Education, through the Department of Education, shall establish a grant program to encourage school districts to pilot test or implement a modified or extended school-year schedule so that school time is adjusted to meet the individual needs of students. The purpose of the grant is to assist with the costs incurred for extending the contracts of master teachers and other salaries, for transportation, for operations, or other additional costs incurred by modifying or extending the school year. Priority for awarding grants must be given to district proposals which include schools within a specific feeder zone or elementary-to-middle-to-high-school attendance area in the pilot testing or implementation of the modified or lengthened year schedule. Districts declared to be impaired shall have priority in obtaining these grants.

(B) The State Board of Education shall establish the criteria for obtaining a grant for implementing a modified or extended school year to meet the individual needs of students. The plans for the programs shall include such areas as provision of more time for student learning, increased opportunities for additional challenging courses, targeted assistance for students whose academic performance is below promotion standards, more opportunities for professional development, and the evaluation component to judge the impact of the modified or lengthened school year. Funding for the program shall be as provided by the General Assembly in the annual general appropriations act. The amount of the grant award shall take into consideration the district's need for funding assistance as represented by the district's index of taxpaying ability. Each grant award for program pilot testing may not exceed a three-year period and for implementation may not exceed a five-year period. However, a grant may be terminated if the terms of the grant are not being met."

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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