summary
Introduced
03/13/2025
03/13/2025
In Committee
02/11/2026
02/11/2026
Crossed Over
02/10/2026
02/10/2026
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, titled "Charter School Accountability," proposes several amendments to South Carolina law concerning charter schools, primarily by replacing the term "sponsor" with "authorizer" to clarify the role of entities that grant and oversee charter schools. Key provisions include requiring charter schools to post their annual audits online and provide copies of any education management contracts to their authorizer, mandating authorizers to establish policies for good governance and accountability, and expanding charter applications to include proposed management contracts. The bill also sets a timeframe for public hearings on charter applications, allows the Governor to remove authorizer or charter school board members who are indicted for a crime or face removal for chronic absenteeism or medical incapacity, and permits appeals of final authorizer decisions to the Administrative Law Court. Additionally, it outlines conditions under which a charter school can terminate its contract with an authorizer, defines the Department of Education's role in overseeing authorizers, and clarifies that guidelines will apply to new authorizers and charter schools.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
House E.P.W K-12 Subcommittee (10:30:00 2/24/2026 Blatt Room 433) (on 02/24/2026)
bill text
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...