summary
Introduced
03/13/2025
03/13/2025
In Committee
03/13/2025
03/13/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
126th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Amend The South Carolina Code Of Laws By Amending Section 59-40-40, Relating To Definitions Pertaining To Charter Schools, So As To Change References From "sponsor" To "authorizer" And To Provide Other Definitions; By Amending Section 59-40-50, Relating To Exemptions, So As To Require A Charter School To Post Their Annual Audit On Their Website And To Notify And Provide A Copy Of Any Education Management Contracts To The Authorizer; By Amending Section 59-40-55, Relating To Authorizer Powers And Duties And The Retention Of Funds, So As To Require The Authorizer To Adopt And Implement Policies, Procedures, And Practices That Ensure Good Governance And Accountability; By Amending Section 59-40-60, Relating To Charter Applications And Committees, So As To Expand The Charter School Application To Include Any Proposed Charter Or Education Management Contracts Contemplated By The Charter School; By Amending Section 59-40-70, Relating To Application Requirements And Procedures, So As To Set A Time Frame To Hold A Public Hearing On The Application For A Charter School; By Amending Section 59-40-75, Relating To The Removal Of An Authorizer Or Member Of A District Or Governing Board, So As To Require The Governor To Vacate The Seat Of A Member Of An Authorizer Or Charter School Governing Board Who Is Indicted For A Crime; And To Allow The Governor To Remove A Member For Chronic Unexcused Absenteeism, Medical Incompetency, Or Medical Incapacity; By Amending Section 59-40-90, Relating To Appeals To The Administrative Law Court, So As To Allow An Appeal For Any Final Decision Made Pursuant To This Chapter Be Made To The Administrative Law Court; By Amending Section 59-40-115, Relating To Termination Of A Contract With An Authorizer, So As To Allow A Charter School To Terminate Its Charter And Contract With An Authorizer Under Certain Conditions; By Amending Section 59-40-150, Relating To The Duties Of The Department Of Education, So As To Establish The Duties Of The Department Of Education To Serve As The State Education Agency For Each Authorizer And Annually Review The Policies, Procedures, And Performance Of Each Authorizer For Compliance; And By Amending Section 59-40-180, Relating To Regulations And Guidelines, So As To Clarify That Guidelines Will Be Applicable To New Authorizers And Charter Schools.
AI Summary
This bill updates South Carolina's charter school laws to enhance accountability and oversight by systematically replacing the term "sponsor" with "authorizer" throughout the existing legal code and introducing several key changes. The bill requires charter schools to post their annual budgets and audits on their websites, notify authorizers of management contracts, and provide more transparent financial information. It expands charter school application requirements to include details about proposed management contracts and strengthens authorizer responsibilities by mandating they develop policies ensuring good governance, conduct annual performance reviews, and post their own budgets and fee structures online. The legislation also gives the Governor more power to remove charter school and authorizer board members for reasons like chronic absenteeism, medical incompetency, or criminal indictment, and allows charter schools to appeal authorizer decisions to the Administrative Law Court. Additionally, the bill establishes a process for charter schools to transfer between authorizers, with specific timelines and conditions, and requires the Department of Education to provide technical assistance and oversight to authorizers. The overall aim is to improve transparency, accountability, and operational standards in South Carolina's charter school system.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Roll call Ayes-33 Nays-4 (on 05/01/2025)
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
Document Type | Source Location |
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State Bill Page | https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=0454&session=126&summary=B |
BillText | https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/prever/454_20250501.htm |
BillText | https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/prever/454_20250410.htm |
BillText | https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/prever/454_20250409.htm |
Fiscal Note - S0454 2025-03-28 Updated | https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/fiscalimpactstatements/S0454%202025-03-28%20updated.pdf |
Fiscal Note - S0454 2025-03-13 Introduced | https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/fiscalimpactstatements/S0454%202025-03-13%20introduced.pdf |
BillText | https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/prever/454_20250319.htm |
BillText | https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/prever/454_20250313.htm |
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