South Carolina General Assembly
113th Session, 1999-2000

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Bill 1111


                    Current Status

Bill Number:                      1111
Ratification Number:              446
Act Number:                       393
Type of Legislation:              General Bill GB
Introducing Body:                 Senate
Introduced Date:                  20000203
Primary Sponsor:                  Setzler
All Sponsors:                     Setzler, Hayes, Martin, Bryan, Anderson, 
                                  Land, Washington, Short, Reese, Patterson, 
                                  Matthews, Glover, Courson, Mescher, O'Dell and 
                                  Rankin
Drafted Document Number:          l:\council\bills\gjk\20924sd00.doc
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:     20000621
Date of Last Amendment:           20000621
Governor's Action:                S
Date of Governor's Action:        20000801
Subject:                          School districts; Teachers, 
                                  Certification, Students, Middle grades, 
                                  Reading, Attendance, Term of, Education, Loans


                        History

Body    Date      Action Description                     Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  ______________________________________ _______ ____________
------  20000824  Act No. A393
------  20000801  Signed by Governor
------  20000622  Ratified R446
House   20000621  Ordered enrolled for ratification
House   20000621  Free Conference Committee Report       99 HFCC
                  adopted
House   20000621  Free Conference Powers granted,        99 HFCC Littlejohn
                  appointed Reps. to Committee of                McMahand
                  Free Conference                                Rodgers
Senate  20000621  Free Conference Committee Report       89 SFCC
                  adopted
Senate  20000621  Free Conference Powers granted,        89 SFCC Bryan
                  appointed Senators to Committee                Hayes
                  of Free Conference                             Short
House   20000531  Conference powers granted,             98 HCC  Littlejohn
                  appointed Reps. to Committee of                McMahand
                  Conference                                     Rodgers
Senate  20000531  Conference powers granted,             88 SCC  Bryan
                  appointed Senators to Committee                Hayes
                  of Conference                                  Short
Senate  20000531  Insists upon amendment
House   20000531  Non-concurrence in Senate amendment
------  20000526  Scrivener's error corrected
Senate  20000525  House amendments amended,
                  returned to House with amendment
House   20000518  Read third time, returned to Senate
                  with amendment
House   20000517  Amended, read second time
House   20000504  Recalled from Committee                21 HEPW
House   20000425  Introduced, read first time,           21 HEPW
                  referred to Committee
------  20000420  Scrivener's error corrected
Senate  20000419  Amended, read third time, 
                  sent to House
------  20000313  Scrivener's error corrected
Senate  20000309  Amended, read second time, 
                  notice of general amendments
------  20000308  Scrivener's error corrected
Senate  20000307  Committee report: Favorable,           04 SED
                  with amendment
------  20000208  Scrivener's error corrected
Senate  20000203  Introduced, read first time,           04 SED
                  referred to Committee


              Versions of This Bill
Revised on February 8, 2000 - Word format
Revised on March 7, 2000 - Word format
Revised on March 8, 2000 - Word format
Revised on March 9, 2000 - Word format
Revised on March 13, 2000 - Word format
Revised on April 19, 2000 - Word format
Revised on April 20, 2000 - Word format
Revised on May 4, 2000 - Word format
Revised on May 17, 2000 - Word format
Revised on May 25, 2000 - Word format
Revised on May 26, 2000 - Word format
Revised on June 21, 2000 - Word format

View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.


(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

(A393, R446, S1111)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 59-1-420, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE LENGTH OF THE SCHOOL TERM, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE MANNER IN WHICH THESE SCHOOL DAYS MUST BE USED AND TO ADD ADDITIONAL DAYS TO THE SCHOOL TERM BEGINNING WITH SCHOOL YEAR 2001-2002 CONTINGENT ON FUNDING BEING PROVIDED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY; TO ADD SECTION 59-5-75 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION SHALL REVIEW AND MAKE NECESSARY REVISIONS TO CRITERIA FOR REQUESTING OUT-OF-FIELD TEACHER PERMITS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE BOARD SHALL CONSIDER ESTABLISHING FOR PRINCIPALS A RECERTIFICATION REQUIREMENT THAT THEY COMPLETE TRAINING ON WAYS TO SUPPORT TEACHERS PROFESSIONALLY; TO ADD SECTION 59-5-85 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL REVIEW AND REFINE CERTAIN PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE DIMENSIONS IN THE STATE'S TEACHER EVALUATION PROGRAM, TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL IMPLEMENT A PILOT PROGRAM TO DEVELOP PROCEDURES FOR INCLUDING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AS A COMPONENT OF THE TEACHER EVALUATION PROGRAM, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DEVELOP GUIDELINES FOR THE TEACHER INDUCTION PROGRAM WHICH SHALL INCLUDE SUSTAINED LONG-TERM COACHING AND ASSISTANCE; TO ADD SECTION 59-5-95 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION SHALL APPOINT A PANEL TO REVIEW TEACHER EDUCATION ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENTS AND RECOMMEND ANY ADDITIONAL TRAINING STANDARDS FOR MIDDLE GRADE TEACHER PREPARATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSES; TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION SHALL TAKE CERTAIN ACTIONS IN REGARD TO MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADES INCLUDING ESTABLISHING REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTIFICATION FOR TEACHING IN THE MIDDLE GRADES, GRANTING STATE CERTIFICATION TO OUT-OF-STATE TEACHERS POSSESSING MIDDLE GRADE CERTIFICATION, APPOINTING A PANEL TO RECOMMEND TRAINING STANDARDS FOR MIDDLE GRADES PREPARATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSES FOR MIDDLE GRADE PRINCIPALS, REVISING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE DEFINED PROGRAM FOR THE MIDDLE GRADES INCLUDING CONSIDERING REDUCING PUPIL-TEACHER RATIOS AND GUIDANCE COUNSELOR RATIOS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-5-135, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE GOVERNOR'S INSTITUTE OF READING UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A PURPOSE OF THE INSTITUTE ALSO SHALL BE TO IMPROVE THE READING ABILITIES OF STUDENTS IN THE MIDDLE GRADES, AND TO ACCELERATE THE LEARNING OF STUDENTS READING BELOW GRADE LEVEL; TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IN DEVELOPING CRITERIA FOR THE NEW ACCREDITATION SYSTEM UNDER THE EDUCATION ACCOUNTABILITY ACT SHALL CONSIDER INCLUDING THE FUNCTIONING OF SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT COUNCILS AND THE PARTICIPATION OF OTHER SCHOOL GROUPS; TO ADD SECTION 59-25-45 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT TEACHERS WORKING LESS THAN THIRTY HOURS A WEEK BUT MORE THAN FIFTEEN HOURS A WEEK SHALL QUALIFY FOR STATE HEALTH AND DENTAL INSURANCE, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE MANNER IN WHICH THE COST THEREOF SHALL BE PAID; TO AMEND SECTION 59-26-20, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO DUTIES OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION IN REGARD TO CERTAIN MATTERS INCLUDING THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE LOAN PROGRAM DESIGNED TO DEVELOP QUALIFIED TEACHERS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT AREAS OF CRITICAL NEED ALSO SHALL INCLUDE CRITICAL GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS AND TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THE MANNER IN WHICH AND CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH LOANS SHALL BE GRANTED TO RECIPIENTS AND FOR THE REPAYMENT OF THESE LOANS BY RECIPIENTS; TO ADD SECTION 59-26-85 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT TEACHERS WHO ARE CERTIFIED BY THE NATIONAL BOARD FOR PROFESSIONAL TEACHING STANDARDS (NBPTS) SHALL BE EXEMPTED FROM CERTAIN STATE CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS, SHALL RECEIVE A SPECIFIED INCREASE IN PAY, AND MAY BE REIMBURSED ON A LOAN AND FORGIVENESS BASIS FOR THE COST OF SUCH CERTIFICATION; TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS DIRECTED TO REVIEW THE PURPOSES AND CERTIFICATION STANDARDS OF CERTAIN NATIONAL CERTIFYING ENTITIES AND MAKE A REPORT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 1, 2000; TO ADD SECTION 59-26-90 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR AN HONORARIUM OF NO LESS THAN TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE STATE TEACHER OF THE YEAR, AN HONORARIUM OF NO LESS THAN TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE FOUR HONOR ROLL TEACHERS OF THE YEAR, AN HONORARIUM OF NOT LESS THAN ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR EACH LOCAL DISTRICT TEACHER OF THE YEAR; TO ADD SECTION 59-26-100 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION SHALL ESTABLISH A PROGRAM WHEREBY SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS MAY BE AWARDED FUNDS TO DEVELOP INCENTIVES FOR THOSE TEACHERS WHO ARE TRAINED TO SERVE AS MENTORS TO NEW TEACHERS; TO ADD SECTION 59-139-90 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT SCHOOL AND DISTRICT STRATEGIC PLANS MUST INCLUDE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT AND METHODS USED FOR DATA COLLECTION TO SUPPORT THE EVALUATION OF PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT EFFORTS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION SHALL STUDY THE TRAINING, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND FUNDING OF PARA-PROFESSIONALS TO BETTER ENABLE SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS TO ORGANIZE TEACHER WORK DAYS TO REDUCE TEACHER NONINSTRUCTIONAL DUTIES; AND TO AMEND SECTION 9-1-1795, RELATING TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF RETIRED TEACHERS WITHOUT THE LOSS OF RETIREMENT BENEFITS, SO AS TO REVISE THE DATE BEFORE WHICH A SCHOOL DISTRICT MAY NOT CONSIDER THE EMPLOYMENT OF SUCH A RETIRED TEACHER.

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

Use of days; school term increased subject to funding

SECTION 1. Section 59-1-420 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 627 of 1990, is further amended to read:

"Section 59-1-420. (A) Beginning with school year 2000-2001, the statutory school term is one hundred ninety days annually and at least one hundred eighty days must be used for student instruction. Of the remaining ten days, no more than two days may be used for preparation of opening of schools. Three days must be used for collegial professional development based upon the educational standards as required by Section 59-18-300 of the Education Accountability Act. The professional development shall address, at a minimum, academic achievement standards including strengthening teachers' knowledge in their content area, teaching techniques, and assessment. The remaining five days may be used for teacher planning, academic plans, and parent conferences.

(B) For school years 2001-2002 and 2002-2003, the statutory school term is one hundred ninety-three days and at least one hundred eighty days must be used for student instruction. Of the remaining thirteen days, seven days must be used for collegial professional development based on national professional development standards. This professional development shall address strengthening the knowledge of all teachers in content, teaching techniques, and assessment. Six days may be used for the development of student academic plans and conferencing with parents or the development of curriculum and instructional plans, and no more than two of these days may be used for preparation of opening of schools.

(C) Beginning with school year 2003-2004, the statutory school term is one hundred ninety-five days annually and at least one hundred eighty days must be used for student instruction. Of the remaining fifteen days, nine days must be used for collegial professional development based on national professional development standards. This professional development shall address strengthening the knowledge of all teachers in content, teaching techniques, and assessment. Six days may be used for the development of student academic plans and conferencing with parents or the development of curriculum and instructional plans, and no more than two of these days may be used for preparation of opening of schools.

(D) The provisions of subsections (B) and (C) of this section shall be implemented only upon funding by the General Assembly. Local school districts shall have no obligation to implement these subsections until funding is provided by the General Assembly."

Out-of-field permits and teaching

SECTION 2. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-5-75. The State Board of Education shall review and make any necessary revisions to regulations to define the criteria for an out-of-field permit and for school districts to report out-of-field teaching for teachers who are not teaching one hundred percent of the time in their areas of certification or in a field in which the teachers have twelve or more academic hours from a regionally, state, or nationally accredited program, with special provisions made for phasing in middle level certification."

Recertification requirement for principals

SECTION 3. The State Board of Education shall consider establishing immediately for individuals employed as principals the recertification requirement that they must complete in-depth training on ways to support and encourage teachers professionally. The curriculum for the training shall include methods for helping teachers develop professional growth plans, selecting opportunities for growth such as taking courses, serving on committees, providing appropriate positive and corrective feedback to teachers, and appropriately assigning teachers based on skill level, stage in career, and future goals. The Principal Executive Institute, New Principals' Academy, and the Leadership Academy at the State Department of Education shall consider identifying recertification opportunities for principals to meet the requirements outlined above as well as include training in the special needs of beginning teachers, the actions to assist them, and the actions to avoid.

Teacher evaluation program standards and procedures

SECTION 4. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-5-85. The State Board of Education and the Department of Education shall review and refine, as necessary, the professional performance dimensions in the state's teacher evaluation program (ADEPT) established in Section 59-26-30(B) to ensure the dimensions are consistent with nationally recognized performance-based accreditation standards and certification standards of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification standards. National board certified teachers shall be included in this review. A report on the changes to the dimensions must be provided to the Education and Public Works Committee of the House of Representatives and the Education Committee of the Senate no later than September 1, 2001.The Department of Education shall implement a pilot program to develop procedures and obtain information for including student achievement as a component in the teacher evaluation program (ADEPT). No fewer than five school districts must participate in the development and pilot of the procedures. At least one district designated as impaired is to be included in the pilot if the district chooses. The development of the program is to begin no later than September 1, 2000. A report on the progress of the project and recommendations concerning its implementation is due to the Education Committee of the Senate and the Education and Public Works Committee of the House of Representatives by March 1, 2001.

Further, the Department of Education shall develop guidelines for the teacher induction program, established in Section 59-26-20, which shall include sustained long-term coaching and assistance. Information on best practices in teacher induction programs must be disseminated to school districts. By July 1, 2000, the State Department of Education shall adopt criteria for the selection and training of teachers who serve as mentors for new teachers as a part of the induction program."

Review of accreditation requirements

SECTION 5. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-5-95. The State Board of Education and the Commission on Higher Education shall appoint a collegial panel of middle grade classroom teachers and teacher preparation faculty to review the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) accreditation requirements and recommend any additional training standards and needs for middle grade teacher preparation and professional development courses. The panel shall be a continuing body, shall include representatives of professional organizations, and shall:

(1) review the state's academic standards in the four core academic areas and current teaching courses;

(2) determine the knowledge and skills needed by teachers at the middle grades level to teach these standards and assess student progress in learning the standards;

(3) establish syllabi to guide the development of high quality teacher preparation courses; and

(4) develop assessments to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the curriculum."

Middle school endeavors

SECTION 6. The State Board of Education shall:

(1) establish requirements for initial certification for teaching in the middle grades by October 1, 2000, in consultation with the Middle Grades Task Force. In setting the requirements, the board shall consider standards for teacher preparation programs, elimination of the significant overlap in grades between elementary and middle level certification, and determine ways to phase in initial and add-on certification. In addition, the board shall establish a timeline and a staged phase-in of add-on certification for teachers currently teaching in the middle grades;

(2) immediately consider granting South Carolina certification to out-of-state teachers possessing middle grades certification based on a review of their teaching experience and background rather than requiring them to meet the requirements for elementary or high school certification;

(3) appoint a collegial panel of middle grades classroom teachers, principals, and teacher preparation faculty to recommend training standards and needs for middle grades preparation and professional development courses for middle grades principals. The panel shall consider, among other areas, the skills and knowledge needed to be a successful middle grades principal and the training needed to carry out the responsibility of supporting, evaluating, and rewarding good teaching;

(4) revisit and redefine the Defined Program, Grades 6-8, Regulation 43-232, and other appropriate regulations that establish the middle grades requirements. As a part of the review, the board shall consider reducing over time the pupil-teacher ratio maximums of 30 and 35 to 1 in academic courses to a maximum ratio of 24 to 1. The board also shall consider reducing over time the ratio of students to guidance counselors from 500 to 1 to 300 to 1 and establishing that the roles and responsibilities of the guidance counselor at the middle grades are to counsel and give academic and career guidance. Consideration also shall be given to requiring school districts to designate in each middle school a home-school liaison to work with individual families and with community groups to support and encourage the ties between school and home and community.

Purpose of institute added

SECTION 7. Section 59-5-135(B) of the 1976 Code, as added by Part II, Section 46, Act 100 of 1999, is amended to read:

"(B) There is created within the State Department of Education the Governor's Institute of Reading. The purpose of the institute is to create a collaborative effort to mobilize education, business, and community resources to ensure that all children learn to read independently and well by the end of the third grade. The purpose of the institute also is to mobilize efforts to improve the reading abilities of students in the middle grades and accelerate the learning of students reading below grade level. The Governor's Institute of Reading is based upon a collaborative effort of education professionals and reading experts and designed to promote reading in every school district. To accomplish this mission, the institute shall:

(1) review the best practices in the teaching of reading;

(2) provide teachers with professional development and support for implementing best practices in the teaching of reading; and

(3) award competitive grants to school districts for designing and providing a comprehensive approach to reading instruction based on best practices.

The State Board of Education shall develop guidelines for administering and allocating funds for the Governor's Institute of Reading. Grants must be awarded, beginning with fiscal year 1999-2000, to districts for implementing programs designed to achieve exemplary reading. The department may carry forward any unexpended appropriations to be used for this same purpose from fiscal year to fiscal year."

Accreditation criteria

SECTION 8. The State Board of Education and Department of Education, in developing the criteria for the new accreditation system mandated by Section 59-18-710 of the 1976 Code, shall consider including as an area the functioning of school improvement councils and other school decision-making groups and their participation in the school planning process in accordance with state requirements.

Health and dental insurance

SECTION 9. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-25-45. Teachers working less than thirty hours a week, but no less than fifteen hours a week, shall qualify for state health and dental insurance. The Budget and Control Board is directed to amend its 'Plan of Benefits' regarding fringe benefits to conform to the provisions of this section. Teachers and employers shall each contribute toward the cost of these benefits with the employer paying only that portion of the employer's normal cost which is attributable to the time the teacher is working, and the teacher shall pay all remaining costs. However, the employer's contribution shall be no less than half the normal cost."

Loan program provisions

SECTION 10. Section 59-26-20(j) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 400 of 1998, is further amended to read:

"(j) the Commission on Higher Education, in consultation with the State Department of Education and the staff of the South Carolina Student Loan Corporation, shall develop a loan program whereby talented and qualified state residents may be provided loans to attend public or private colleges and universities for the sole purpose and intent of becoming certified teachers employed in the State in areas of critical need. Areas of critical need shall include both geographic areas and areas of teacher certification and must be defined annually for that purpose by the State Board of Education. The definitions used in the federal Perkins Loan Program shall serve as the basis for defining 'critical geographical areas'. The recipient of a loan is entitled to have up to one hundred percent of the amount of the loan plus the interest canceled if he becomes certified and teaches in an area of critical need. Should the area of critical need that the loan recipient is teaching in be reclassified during the time of cancellation, the cancellation shall continue as though the critical need area had not changed. Additionally, beginning with the 2000-2001 school year, a teacher with a teacher loan through the South Carolina Student Loan Corporation shall qualify, if the teacher is teaching in an area newly designated as a critical needs area (geographic or subject, or both). Previous loan payments shall not be reimbursed. The Department of Education and the local school district shall be responsible for annual distribution of the critical needs list. It shall be the responsibility of the teacher to request loan cancellation through service in a critical needs area to the Student Loan Corporation by November 1.

Beginning July 1, 2000, the loan must be canceled at the rate of twenty percent or three thousand dollars, whichever is greater, of the total principal amount of the loan plus interest on the unpaid balance for each complete year of teaching service in either an academic critical need area or in a geographic need area. The loan must be canceled at the rate of thirty-three and one-third percent, or five thousand dollars, whichever is greater, of the total principal amount of the loan plus interest on the unpaid balance for each complete year of teaching service in both an academic critical need area and a geographic need area. Beginning July 1, 2000, all loan recipients teaching in the public schools of South Carolina but not in an academic or geographic critical need area are to be charged an interest rate below that charged to loan recipients who do not teach in South Carolina.

Additional loans to assist with college and living expenses shall be made available for talented and qualified state residents attending public or private colleges and universities in this State for the sole purpose and intent of changing careers in order to become certified teachers employed in the State in areas of critical need. These loan funds also may be used for the cost of participation in the critical needs certification program pursuant to Section 59-26-30(A)(8). Such loans must be cancelled under the same conditions and at the same rates as other critical need loans.

In case of failure to make a scheduled repayment of any installment, failure to apply for cancellation of deferment of the loan on time, or noncompliance by a borrower with the intent of the loan, the entire unpaid indebtedness including accrued interest, at the option of the commission, shall become immediately due and payable. The recipient shall execute the necessary legal documents to reflect his obligation and the terms and conditions of the loan. The loan program, if implemented, pursuant to the South Carolina Education Improvement Act, is to be administered by the South Carolina Student Loan Corporation. Funds generated from repayments to the loan program must be retained in a separate account and utilized as a revolving account for the purpose that the funds were originally appropriated. Appropriations for loans and administrative costs incurred by the corporation are to be provided in annual amounts, recommended by the Commission on Higher Education, to the State Treasurer for use by the corporation. The Education Oversight Committee shall review the loan program annually and report to the General Assembly;"

NBPTS certification and related provisions

SECTION 11. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-26-85. (A) Teachers who are certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) shall enter a recertification cycle for their South Carolina certificate consistent with the recertification cycle for National Board certification and NBPTS certified teachers moving to this State are exempted from initial certification requirements and are eligible for continuing contract status and their recertification cycle will be consistent with National Board certification. Teachers receiving national certification from the NBPTS shall receive an increase in pay for the life of the certification. The pay increase shall be determined annually in the appropriations act. The established amount shall be added to the annual pay of the nationally certified teacher.

(B) The Center for Teacher Recruitment shall develop guidelines and administer the programs whereby teachers applying to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards for certification may receive a loan equal to the amount of the application fee. One-half of the loan principal amount and interest shall be forgiven when the required portfolio is submitted to the national board. Teachers attaining certification within three years of receiving the loan will have the full loan principal amount and interest forgiven."

Review of purposes and standards

SECTION 12. The Department of Education is directed to review the purposes and certification standards of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) and examine the purposes and certification standards of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA), National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. (NBCC), and National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) to determine comparability and make recommendations regarding recertification cycles, initial certification requirements for these personnel certified out-of-state, and incentives for these national certifications. The State Department of Education shall report its findings to the Senate Education Committee and the House Education and Public Works Committee no later than December 1, 2000.

Honorarium

SECTION 13. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-26-90. The State Department of Education shall establish a program for the State Teacher of the Year to include an honorarium of no less than twenty-five thousand dollars. In addition, the program is to recognize the four honor roll teachers of the year with awards of no less than ten thousand dollars each and award local district teachers of the year with honoraria of no less than one thousand dollars each."

Teacher incentive funds

SECTION 14. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-26-100. The State Board of Education, acting through the Department of Education, shall establish a program whereby schools and school districts may be awarded funds to develop various types of incentives for those teachers who are trained and serve as mentors to new teachers as a part of the induction program established in Section 59-26-20. Among the incentives that may qualify are additional pay, release time, and additional assistance in the classroom. To qualify for these funds, the school or school district must meet the criteria established by the state board."

Strategic plans

SECTION 15. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-139-90. The school and district strategic plans required in Section 59-139-10 must include the stated goals and objectives for parent involvement and the methods used for data collection to support statewide evaluation of parent involvement efforts."

Para-professionals

SECTION 16. The State Department of Education shall undertake a study of the training, responsibilities, and funding of para-professionals to better enable school districts and schools to organize teachers' work days so as to reduce teachers' noninstructional duties, such as breakfast, lunch, and bus duty, and provide teachers more time during the school day to plan for instruction and collaborate for improved curriculum delivery. The study must be provided to the Education Committee of the Senate and the Education and Public Works Committee of the House of Representatives no later than August 15, 2000.

Employment date revised

SECTION 17. Section 9-1-1795(B) of the 1976 Code, as added by Section 82, Part II, Act 100 of 1999, is amended to read:

"(B) For the provisions of this section to apply, the Department of Education must review and approve, from the documentation provided by the school district, that no qualified, nonretired member is available for employment in the position and that the member selected for employment meets the requirements of this section. However, a school district may not consider a member of the system for employment before May 31 of each year. After approval is received from the Department of Education, school districts must notify the State Board of Education of the engagement of a retired member as a teacher and the department must notify the State Retirement System of their exemption from the earnings limitation. If the employing district fails to notify the department of the engagement of a retired member as a teacher, the district shall reimburse the system for all benefits wrongly paid to the retired member."

Time effective

SECTION 18. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor, except that the provisions of Section 59-1-420(B) and (C) as contained in Section 1 shall be implemented upon funding by the General Assembly.

Ratified the 22nd day of June, 2000.

Approved the 1st day of August, 2000.

__________


This web page was last updated on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at 9:09 A.M.