Bill > S0430

This bill aims to establish comprehensive guidelines for suspension and behavior management in publicly funded preschool programs in South Carolina, focusing on 3K and 4K students. The legislation defines "challenging behavior" as repeated patterns that interfere with learning or positive interactions and specifies that out-of-school suspensions are only permissible in serious safety threats after exhausting all intervention strategies. Before suspending or expelling a child, schools must first attempt to maintain enrollment by implementing multi-tiered support systems, trauma-informed care, behavioral specialist interventions, and mental health services. The bill requires schools to review existing codes of conduct to ensure age-appropriate behavior expectations and consequences for preschoolers, and mandates that the State Department of Education provide professional development and resources to help educators work effectively with children exhibiting challenging behaviors. Additionally, the legislation requires detailed documentation of suspension efforts and data collection, with annual reporting to legislative committees about preschool suspension and expulsion rates. The goal is to support early childhood education by prioritizing student retention, intervention, and understanding of developmental behaviors, while ensuring child safety and minimizing instructional disruption.

Education

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=0430&session=126&summary=B