South CarolinaH 3196126th General Assembly (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "EDUCATOR ASSISTANCE ACT" BY ADDING SECTION 59-101-145 SO AS TO AUTHORIZE THE USE OF DATA BEING COLLECTED UNDER CURRENT PROCEDURES TO REPORT ON CERTAIN POSTSECONDARY MATTERS CONCERNING GRADUATES OF SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND TO REQUIRE THE STREAMLINING OF DATA COLLECTION TIMELINES AND PROCESSES; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-25-47, RELATING TO POLICIES AUTHORIZING PAYMENTS FOR UNUSED TEACHER LEAVE, SO AS TO REQUIRE ADDITIONAL POLICIES THAT ALLOW TEACHERS TO DONATE SUCH UNUSED LEAVE TO A LEAVE BANK FOR OTHER EMPLOYEES, AND TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE POLICIES; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-25-410, RELATING TO ANNUAL NOTIFICATION OF SCHOOL TEACHER EMPLOYMENT AND ASSIGNMENTS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THE NOTIFICATION MUST INCLUDE CERTAIN SALARY INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS IN THE REQUIRED NOTICE, TO PROVIDE NOTICE OF TENTATIVE TEACHER ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE PROVIDED NO LATER THAN FOURTEEN CALENDAR DAYS BEFORE THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, AND TO PROHIBIT LIMITATIONS ON TEACHER REASSIGNMENTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-1-425, RELATING TO REQUIRED DAYS FOR COLLEGIAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE ANNUAL SCHOOL CALENDAR, SO AS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DAYS TO FOUR, TO PROVIDE DISTRICTS MUST VERIFY COMPLETING OF THE REQUIRED COLLEGIAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN A CERTAIN MANNER, TO PROVIDE TEACHERS AND INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTS MUST BE PROVIDED SELF-DIRECTED FREE TIME TO EVALUATE STUDENT ACADEMIC DATA, INSTRUCTIONAL PLANNING, AND CLASSROOM PREPARATION, AND TO REMOVE A TWO-DAY MAXIMUM LIMITATION ON USE OF THESE COLLEGIAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAYS FOR THE PREPARATION AND OPENING OF SCHOOLS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-25-160, RELATING TO ACTIONS CONSTITUTING JUST CAUSE GROUNDS FOR TEACHER CERTIFICATE REVOCATION OR SUSPENSION PURPOSES, SO AS TO INCLUDE BREACH OF CONTRACT; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-25-530, RELATING TO UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND BREACH OF CONTRACT BY TEACHERS, SO AS TO RECHARACTERIZE CERTAIN ACTIONS AS BEING BREACH OF CONTRACT INSTEAD OF UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT, TO REVISE THE PENALTIES AND CONSEQUENCES FOR SUCH BREACHES OF CONTRACT, AND TO PROVIDE AN EXEMPTION FROM BREACH OF CONTRACT FINDINGS FOR TEACHERS WHO MOVE TO BONA FIDE RESIDENCES IN NONCONTIGUOUS COUNTIES DURING THE CONTRACT TERM, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-26-40, RELATING TO CONTINUING CONTRACT STATUS FOR TEACHERS, SO AS TO REQUIRE COMPLETION OF COLLEGIAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND TO PROVIDE EMPLOYING DISTRICTS SHALL AWARD CREDITS FOR PROFESSIONAL TEACHING CERTIFICATE RENEWAL TO CONTINUING CONTRACT TEACHERS WHO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE SUCH COLLEGIAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-26-45, RELATING TO RETIRED EDUCATOR TEACHING CERTIFICATES, SO AS TO MAKE SUCH CERTIFICATES LIFETIME IN DURATION INSTEAD OF RENEWABLE, TO PROVIDE SUCH TEACHERS MAY TEACH ON A FULL-TIME BASIS OR PART-TIME BASIS, AND TO EXEMPT SUCH TEACHERS FROM CERTIFICATE RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS; BY REPEALING SECTION 59-101-130 RELATING TO HIGH SCHOOLS REPORTING TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION, AND INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING REPORTING TO HIGH SCHOOLS; AND BY REPEALING SECTION 59-101-140 RELATING TO TABULATION OF REPORTS.

Sponsored By: Shannon S. Erickson (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Summary

Educator Assistance Act

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Pay for extra leave and shared sick bank

Beginning July 1, 2025, a local board may pay you for unused sick and annual leave over 90 days. Pay is only for leave earned after July 1, 2018, and at a rate set by the board or the district’s substitute rate. Districts and charter schools must also let employees donate unused leave over 60 days into a shared sick leave bank. The policy must set who can use days, how requests are reviewed, and a cap on days you can take each year. Districts with qualifying leave bank or advance-balance policies in place before this law do not have to change them.

Stronger rehire and assignment rules for teachers

Beginning July 1, 2026, districts must give teachers written reemployment notice by May 1. If a teacher worked most of the year and gets no notice, they are reemployed and must get a contract. The state deducts $10,000 from the district for each missed notice. Every notice must include a projected minimum salary schedule and a promise to send the final schedule. On request, districts must share the factors used to place a teacher on the pay scale. No later than 14 calendar days before students return, teachers must get a tentative assignment. Reassignment to another location needs proof of need and at least five school days’ written notice, unless there is a critical student need or the teacher asked for the move.

Tougher teacher contract breach rules

Beginning July 1, 2025, breach of contract is a formal ground to suspend or revoke an educator’s certificate. A district must file any complaint within 60 days of the breach. With proof, the State Board may suspend a certificate for up to six months starting on the breach date. During a suspension, no South Carolina public school may hire the educator, and other states are notified. You are not in breach if you prove a bona fide move of your main home to a noncontiguous county during the contract term, using documents like ID, voter registration, and property tax status.

Easier return to classrooms for retirees

Beginning July 1, 2025, the state offers a retired educator certificate that does not require renewal. Eligible retired teachers may work part-time or full-time for a district. To qualify, you must have held a valid renewable professional certificate at retirement, meet retirement program rules, not hold another active SC certificate, and have no prior suspension, revocation, or surrender. To keep it active, you must send a written notice to the department every five years as set in guidelines.

New reports on college success for grads

Beginning July 1, 2025, the Education Department, with the Oversight Committee, reports on college enrollment, persistence, and completion for South Carolina high school graduates. The reports use data the state already collects and streamline timelines and processes. This gives clearer information to families, schools, and the public.

More PD days and protected prep time

Beginning July 1, 2025, districts must use four days each year for collegial professional development tied to state standards. Districts must verify each certified employee finished the required professional development when they report days worked. At least two staff workdays must be set for school opening. On those days, teachers and instructional assistants get self-directed time with no required meetings or training. The old two-day cap on using professional development days for school prep is removed, giving more local flexibility.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Shannon S. Erickson

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Terry Alexander

    Democrat • House

  • Carl L. Anderson

    Democrat • House

  • Brandon Newton

    Republican • House

  • Cody T. Mitchell

    Republican • House

  • Paula Rawl Calhoon

    Republican • House

  • Micajah P. "Micah" Caskey IV

    Republican • House

  • William M. "Bill" Chumley

    Republican • House

  • Neal A. Collins

    Republican • House

  • April Cromer

    Republican • House

  • Adam L. Duncan

    Republican • House

  • Sarita L. Edgerton

    Republican • House

  • G. Murrell Smith, Jr.

    Republican • House

  • Leon D. "Doug" Gilliam

    Republican • House

  • Wendell G. Gilliard

    Democrat • House

  • Jerry N. Govan, Jr.

    Democrat • House

  • Hamilton R. Grant

    Democrat • House

  • Patrick B. Haddon

    Republican • House

  • Thomas F. "Tom" Hartnett, Jr.

    Republican • House

  • Charles V. Hartz

    Republican • House

  • William M. "Bill" Hixon

    Republican • House

  • John Gregory "Jay" Kilmartin

    Republican • House

  • M. Brian Lawson

    Republican • House

  • Thomas R. "Randy" Ligon

    Republican • House

  • Marvin "Mark" Smith

    Republican • House

  • Josiah Magnuson

    Republican • House

  • David Martin

    Republican • House

  • John R. McCravy III

    Republican • House

  • Melissa Lackey Oremus

    Republican • House

  • Fawn M. Pedalino

    Republican • House

  • Thomas E. "Tommy" Pope

    Republican • House

  • Robert T. Reese

    Democrat • House

  • Michael F. Rivers, Sr.

    Democrat • House

  • Richard Blake Sanders

    Republican • House

  • Carla M. Schuessler

    Republican • House

  • Tiffany R. Spann-Wilder

    Democrat • House

  • Leonidas E. "Leon" Stavrinakis

    Democrat • House

  • Bill Taylor

    Republican • House

  • James E. Teeple

    Republican • House

  • Jackie R. Terribile

    Republican • House

  • David Vaughan

    Republican • House

  • Wm. Weston J. Newton

    Republican • House

  • Elizabeth "Spencer" Wetmore

    Democrat • House

  • Chris Wooten

    Republican • House

  • Richard L. "Richie" Yow

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 266 • No: 0

House vote • 4/30/2025

(Educator Assistance Act)Concur in Senate Amendments

Yes: 116 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/16/2025

(Educator Assistance Act)2nd Reading

Yes: 39 • No: 0

House vote • 2/12/2025

(Educator Assistance Act)Passage of Bill

Yes: 111 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Act No. 12

    5/12/2025legislature
  2. Effective date See Act for Effective Date

    5/12/2025legislature
  3. Signed By Governor

    5/7/2025Governor
  4. Ratified R 41

    5/6/2025legislature
  5. Roll call Yeas-116 Nays-0

    4/30/2025House
  6. Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled

    4/30/2025House
  7. Read third time and returned to House with amendments

    4/24/2025Senate
  8. Scrivener's error corrected

    4/22/2025legislature
  9. Roll call Ayes-39 Nays-0

    4/16/2025Senate
  10. Read second time

    4/16/2025Senate
  11. Committee Amendment Adopted

    4/16/2025Senate
  12. Committee report: Favorable with amendment Education

    4/10/2025Senate
  13. Scrivener's error corrected

    2/13/2025legislature
  14. Referred to Committee on Education

    2/13/2025Senate
  15. Introduced and read first time

    2/13/2025Senate
  16. Read third time and sent to Senate

    2/13/2025House
  17. Roll call Yeas-109 Nays-0

    2/12/2025House
  18. Read second time

    2/12/2025House
  19. Amended

    2/12/2025House
  20. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Lawson, Yow, Edgerton, Cromer, Reese, Gilliard, Alexander, Rivers, Oremus, Hartz, Anderson

    2/12/2025House
  21. Scrivener's error corrected

    2/11/2025legislature
  22. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Hartnett, Pedalino, Taylor, Hixon, Govan, Calhoon, Ligon

    2/11/2025House
  23. Committee report: Favorable with amendment Education and Public Works

    2/6/2025House
  24. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Grant

    2/6/2025House
  25. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Teeple

    2/4/2025House

Bill Text

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