All Roll Calls
Yes: 154 • No: 0
South CarolinaS 0079126th General Assembly (2025-2026)SenateWALLET
AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-18-1115 SO AS TO ESTABLISH A FIVE-YEAR PILOT PROGRAM TO PERMIT PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO HIRE NONCERTIFIED TEACHERS IN A RATIO UP TO TEN PERCENT OF THE ENTIRE TEACHING STAFF OF THE DISTRICT, AND TO PROVIDE RELATED PARTICIPATION AND IMPLEMENTATION REQUIREMENTS, AMONG OTHER THINGS; AND BY ADDING SECTION 23-3-90 SO AS TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR STATE AGENCY REQUESTS OF CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD CHECKS.
Sponsored By: Greg Hembree (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Summary
Noncertified Teacher Pilot Program
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Schools can hire up to 10% noncertified teachers
The law lets participating public schools hire noncertified teachers up to 10% of their teaching staff. The Department of Education sets up the pilot by May 1, 2025. It runs through June 30, 2030. Joining is optional and needs the principal, the Department, and the district superintendent to agree. The pilot does not cover work-based, career, or technical education teachers. The Department adds a code to show these hires on school report cards and sends yearly reports starting November 1, 2026, with a 2029 recommendation on whether to continue. The Department cannot add new FTE positions to run the pilot.
Rules and costs for noncertified teachers
To work as a noncertified teacher, you must have a bachelor’s or higher degree and five years of related work. You must complete training, join the state evaluation process, and enroll in a teacher certification program within three years. You must submit fingerprints for state (SLED) and FBI checks, and you pay the background-check costs. The Department of Education keeps your registration data confidential and only shares it with the State Board when needed. You cannot be employed as a noncertified teacher while your South Carolina educator certificate is suspended or revoked. If you leave after misconduct allegations, the superintendent must report it, and the State Board can revoke your registration for just cause.
State rules for fingerprints and criminal checks
State agencies that are allowed to run criminal history checks must keep results limited to SLED and other authorized recipients. SLED and the FBI can keep fingerprints and use them for future searches, including through the FBI’s Next Generation Identification system. SLED can notify authorized recipients when a record changes. SLED can charge reasonable fees to collect and keep fingerprints and extra fees for FBI notification services.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Greg Hembree
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
Jeff Zell
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 5/6/2025
(Noncertified Teacher Pilot Program)Passage of Bill
Yes: 112 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/4/2025
(Noncertified Teacher Pilot Program)2nd Reading
Yes: 42 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Act No. 30
5/19/2025legislatureEffective date See Act for Effective Date
5/19/2025legislatureSigned By Governor
5/12/2025GovernorRatified R 48
5/8/2025legislatureConcurred in House amendment and enrolled
5/7/2025SenateRead third time and returned to Senate with amendments
5/7/2025HouseRoll call Yeas-112 Nays-0
5/6/2025HouseRead second time
5/6/2025HouseAmended
5/6/2025HouseCommittee report: Favorable Education and Public Works
5/1/2025HouseReferred to Committee on Education and Public Works
3/6/2025HouseIntroduced and read first time
3/6/2025HouseRead third time and sent to House
3/5/2025SenateRoll call Ayes-42 Nays-0
3/4/2025SenateRead second time
3/4/2025SenateCommittee Amendment Adopted
3/4/2025SenateCommittee report: Favorable with amendment Education
2/26/2025SenateReferred to Committee on Education
1/14/2025SenateIntroduced and read first time
1/14/2025SenateReferred to Committee on Education
12/11/2024SenatePrefiled
12/11/2024Senate
Bill Text
Introduced
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