Bill > H5442

This bill, titled "Digital devices in public schools," aims to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by adding a new section that prohibits the use of digital devices by students in kindergarten through fifth grade, as well as by teachers when providing instruction to these young students. A "digital device" is broadly defined as any electronic hardware capable of accessing, processing, storing, displaying, receiving, or transmitting data, including personal devices and those provided by schools, but excluding medical or assistive technology devices, school facility equipment not for student use, and simple calculators without internet or data transmission capabilities. The bill also defines "parent" as a parent or legal guardian and "social media" as a form of online communication for sharing content. While generally banning these devices for young students and their instruction, the bill includes exceptions for public virtual schools, mandates that schools must still comply with federal disability laws like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and allows for the use of digital devices for specific state-required assessments like universal screeners and dyslexia screenings.

Education

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=5442&session=126&summary=B