Legislative Update May 22, 2012

K-12 Education Budget House Version (H.4813) Senate Version Base Student Cost $2,012 (current $1,880 / required $2,790) Minimum 2% increase in district employee salaries Index of Taxpaying Ability – deleted hold-harmless funds Furloughs allowed only if mid-year budget cuts Senate Version Full Senate debate started on 5/15/12 Allow furloughs – not tied to mid-year budget cuts Teachers required to receive step increase and 2% raise Index of Taxpaying Ability – added dollars for hold-harmless Proviso to create school bus transportation committee Proviso (FY12-13) to temporarily suspend limitations under the Education Capital Improvements Sales and Use Tax Act of 2008

Charter School Act Charter School Act (H.3241) Governor signed 5/14/12 Key points: Majority vote of school board to convert to charter if school has general obligation debt Two-thirds vote of local board to convert to charter school if school carries debt approved by referendum Funding based on school’s previous two-year weighted pupil unit Charter school students can participate in any excurricular activities offered at their resident public school if not offered at the student’s charter school

Equal Access to Activities Equal Access to Interscholastic Activities Act (S.149) Passed Senate on 4/24/12 Passed K-12 Subcommittee on 5/17/12 Debate in Full Committee on Education and Public Works on 5/22/12 Allows home school, charter school and Governor school students to participate in interscholastic activities in school district of their home residence Students must provide affidavit of attendance, class, or enrollment of home, charter, or Governor school Students required to fulfill the same responsibilities and standards for behavior and performance Students required to meet same standards for acceptance Prohibits student participation if it deprives student attending the school of an opportunity to participate Students required to maintain academic eligibility

School Choice Public School Choice Program Act (S.1267) In full Senate for consideration House would have to accept as cross-over Districts, over a three year period, have to provide education program choices (i.e., public charter schools, vitural school programs, single gender, magnet schools) 2012-2013 – Districts form school choice committee 2013-2014 – Districts begin implementation of school choice program 2013-2014 – Districts develop plans for Open Enrollment 2014-2015 – Parents may enroll child in any public school in state without paying tuition District Board adopts policies for individual school capacities, standards of approval, priority of acceptance Transportation is responsibility of parent

Tuition Tax Credits Vouchers and Tuition Tax Credits (H.4894/H.4576/H.4547/S1325) Passed House on 3/28/12 Currently in full Senate Finance Committee Plan could cost $37 million State income tax deduction of up to $4,000 for tuition paid by the parent or legal guardian for child to attend an independent school State income tax deduction of up to $1,000 for tuition paid by parent or legal guardian for child to attend public school outside of their resident district State income tax deduction of up to $2,000 per home school student Dollar for dollar state income tax credit, insurance premium taxes, or bank license fees for contributions made to non-profit scholarship funding organizations that would provide ‘grants’ to eligible students to attend a qualifying independent school

SC Bus Decentralization Act SC School Bus Decentralization Act (H.4610) Passed House on 5/1/12 Referred to Senate Education Committee Nine member bus transition study committee Meet in the interim Report back to General Assembly by 1/1/13

South Carolina Public Schools are Succeeding! Congratulations Aiken County School District invited to White House Aiken County School District national leader in creating effective partnerships to provide career and technical education Opportunity to discuss role of partnerships in developing career pathways