Bill > H3260

This bill amends South Carolina's school attendance law to mandate that school district boards of trustees adopt policies allowing students to be excused from school for religious instruction, with specific conditions. Under the revised law, students can be excused if their parent or guardian provides written consent, the religious instruction provider maintains attendance records, handles transportation, assumes liability, and ensures no public school personnel are involved in providing the instruction. The bill changes the previous permissive language ("may") to a requirement ("shall") for districts to create these policies and allows for minimal administrative costs to be paid with public funds. The legislation also revises the restrictions on releasing students from classes, narrowing the prohibition to only prevent students from being released from core academic instruction in English, math, and science, while clarifying that students attending religious instruction are not considered absent from school. Students will still be responsible for making up any missed schoolwork, and the policy aims to provide flexibility for religious education while maintaining academic standards.

Education

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=3260&session=126&summary=B