1. Legislative Update
May 22, 2012

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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)
– Districts form school choice committee
– Districts begin implementation of school choice program
– Districts develop plans for Open Enrollment
– 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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