South CarolinaH 5073126th General Assembly (2025-2026)House

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-29-250 SO AS TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL GRADING SYSTEMS, TO CONDITION ELIGIBILITY FOR CREDIT RECOVERY AND CONTENT RECOVERY ON COMPLETION OF REQUIRED ASSIGNMENTS, TO LIMIT THE USE OF CERTAIN ASSESSMENTS, TO PROVIDE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS, TO DIRECT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ESTABLISH A TASK FORCE TO EVALUATE AND RECOMMEND REVISIONS TO THE UNIFORM GRADING POLICY, AND TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO ADOPT THE RECOMMENDED REVISIONS, AMONG OTHER THINGS.

Sponsored By: Fawn M. Pedalino (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Summary

Public school grading

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Task force to update grading policy

The State Board of Education forms a grading policy task force before the 2026–2027 school year. It includes 3 superintendents, 3 principals, 3 teachers, 3 school board representatives, and 3 high school students. The group reports by June 1, 2027. The Board must act on the report and adopt updates. Districts must put approved changes in place by the 2028–2029 school year. The policy is reviewed at least every seven years.

Tighter rules for credit recovery

Beginning July 1, 2026, students can use district credit recovery only if they turned in all required work on time under district rules. For content recovery, students must finish all required work for that part of the course on time under district rules. Districts still may set their own recovery program policies, but they must follow these state requirements.

Fairer grading and testing rules

Starting July 1, 2026, schools cannot require teachers to give a minimum grade that is higher than a student’s actual work. If a district breaks this rule, the State Department of Education withholds 10% of that district’s State Aid to Classroom funding. Final grades cannot include state-required formative tests or most district benchmark tests. A benchmark can count only if the teacher had the test before it was given and it only covers material already taught. End-of-course exams can still count. Districts must share benchmark results quickly with teachers, students, and parents. These rules apply to all public and charter schools.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Fawn M. Pedalino

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Brandon Newton

    Republican • House

  • Nathan Ballentine

    Republican • House

  • Jeff Bradley

    Republican • House

  • Gary S. Brewer, Jr.

    Republican • House

  • T. Case Brittain, Jr.

    Republican • House

  • James Mikell "Mike" Burns

    Republican • House

  • Donald G. "Don" Chapman

    Republican • House

  • William M. "Bill" Chumley

    Republican • House

  • Brandon L. Cox

    Republican • House

  • Heather Ammons Crawford

    Republican • House

  • April Cromer

    Republican • House

  • Dianne Mitchell

    Republican • House

  • Sarita L. Edgerton

    Republican • House

  • Shannon S. Erickson

    Republican • House

  • G. Murrell Smith, Jr.

    Republican • House

  • Craig A. Gagnon

    Republican • House

  • Daniel Gibson

    Republican • House

  • Thomas Lee Gilreath

    Republican • House

  • Thomas Duval "Val" Guest, Jr.

    Republican • House

  • Brandon Guffey

    Republican • House

  • Patrick B. Haddon

    Republican • House

  • Thomas F. "Tom" Hartnett, Jr.

    Republican • House

  • Lee Hewitt

    Republican • House

  • Jeffrey E. "Jeff" Johnson

    Republican • House

  • John T. Lastinger, Jr.

    Republican • House

  • M. Brian Lawson

    Republican • House

  • Steven Wayne Long

    Republican • House

  • Donald Ryan McCabe, Jr.

    Republican • House

  • John R. McCravy III

    Republican • House

  • Timothy A. "Tim" McGinnis

    Republican • House

  • W. Scott Montgomery IV

    Republican • House

  • Dennis C. Moss

    Republican • House

  • Mike M. Neese

    Republican • House

  • Melissa Lackey Oremus

    Republican • House

  • Jordan S. Pace

    Republican • House

  • Luke S. Rankin

    Republican • House

  • Robby Robbins

    Republican • House

  • Carla M. Schuessler

    Republican • House

  • Heath Sessions

    Republican • House

  • Travis A. Moore

    Republican • House

  • James E. Teeple

    Republican • House

  • Jackie R. Terribile

    Republican • House

  • David Vaughan

    Republican • House

  • Wm. Weston J. Newton

    Republican • House

  • Joseph S. "Joe" White

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 702 • No: 118

House vote • 5/6/2026

(Public school grading)Concur in Senate Amendments

Yes: 114 • No: 3

Senate vote • 4/29/2026

(Public school grading)2nd Reading

Yes: 43 • No: 0

House vote • 3/4/2026

(Public school grading)Passage of Bill

Yes: 110 • No: 2

House vote • 3/4/2026

(Public school grading)Table Amendment 6  Amendment number 6

Yes: 77 • No: 31

House vote • 3/4/2026

(Public school grading)Table Motion to Recommit

Yes: 92 • No: 20

House vote • 3/4/2026

(Public school grading)Table Amendment 6  Amendment number 6

Yes: 77 • No: 31

House vote • 3/4/2026

(Public school grading)Passage of Bill

Yes: 110 • No: 2

House vote • 3/4/2026

(Public school grading)Table Amendment 3  Amendment number 3

Yes: 79 • No: 29

Actions Timeline

  1. Act No. 204

    6/2/2026legislature
  2. Effective date 07/01/26

    6/2/2026legislature
  3. Signed By Governor

    5/18/2026Governor
  4. Ratified R 254

    5/15/2026legislature
  5. Scrivener's error corrected

    5/6/2026legislature
  6. Roll call Yeas-114 Nays-3

    5/6/2026House
  7. Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled

    5/6/2026House
  8. Read third time and returned to House with amendments

    4/30/2026Senate
  9. Roll call Ayes-43 Nays-0

    4/29/2026Senate
  10. Read second time

    4/29/2026Senate
  11. Amended

    4/29/2026Senate
  12. Committee Amendment Adopted

    4/29/2026Senate
  13. Committee report: Favorable with amendment Education

    4/21/2026Senate
  14. Referred to Committee on Education

    3/10/2026Senate
  15. Introduced and read first time

    3/10/2026Senate
  16. Read third time and sent to Senate

    3/5/2026House
  17. Roll call Yeas-110 Nays-2

    3/4/2026House
  18. Read second time

    3/4/2026House
  19. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Ballentine

    3/4/2026House
  20. Requests for debate-Rep

    3/3/2026House
  21. Amended

    3/3/2026House
  22. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Hewitt, Haddon, Cromer, Gilreath, Hartnett

    3/3/2026House
  23. Committee report: Favorable with amendment Education and Public Works

    2/26/2026House
  24. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Burns

    2/19/2026House
  25. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Lastinger

    2/17/2026House

Bill Text

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