South Carolina Administrative Code

43-205.1. Assisting, Developing, and Evaluating Professional Teaching (ADEPT). I. State Standards for Professional Teaching Teacher preparation programs and school districts must address, but are not limited to, the performance standards for Assisting, Developing, and Evaluating …

43-206. Professional Personnel Resignation. Any teacher who fails to comply with the provisions of his contract without the written consent of the school board shall be deemed guilty of unprofessional conduct. A breach of contract resulting from the execution of an employment con…

43-210. School Resource Officers. I. Expectations for School Resource Officers in South Carolina Public Schools School resource officers are necessary to provide law enforcement services to a safe learning environment. School resource officers shall act in accordance with policie…

43-229. Defined Program for the Palmetto Unified School District (PUSD). Palmetto Unified School District No. 1 (PUSD) was established in 1981 by the South Carolina General Assembly, pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. § 24-25-10, to provide educational services to inmates through a state…

43-231. Defined Program K-5. Each school district board of trustees shall ensure quality schooling having a rigorous, relevant curriculum for all students. Each school district shall examine the academic achievement standards adopted by the South Carolina State Board of Education…

43-234. Defined Program, Grades 9-12 and Graduation Requirements. Each school district board of trustees must ensure quality schooling by providing a rigorous, relevant curriculum for all students. Each school district must offer a standards-based academic curriculum organized ar…

43-235. Employability Credential for Students with Disabilities. A. Introduction and Purpose. (1) This regulation, as governed by S.C. Code Ann. Section 59-39-100, will promulgate the program components and criteria for a state-recognized Employability Credential for applicable s…

43-236. Career or Technology Centers/Comprehensive High Schools. Career or technology centers and/or comprehensive high schools shall, based on local needs, offer a variety of courses that will constitute a career major. These career majors are contained in the clusters defined a…

43-237.1. Adult Education Program. A. Adult Education Program The program of adult education is provided for adults who want to acquire a basic education, to prepare for a high school equivalency test, to develop literacy skills, to obtain the knowledge and skills necessary for e…

43-238. Health Education Requirements. The Comprehensive Health Education (CHE) Act of 1988 (59-32-5) requires that public school health instruction be planned, age-appropriate, and sequential. The CHE Act further requires that, at least one time during the four years of grades 9…

43-240. Summer School Programs. (Statutory Authority: 1976 Code §§ 59-6-60(3&6), and 59-39-100) A. Summer school programs are provided for the following purposes: to deliver academic assistance to students in grades three through eight under the Education Accountability Act of 19…

43-241. Medical Homebound Instruction. I. Students who cannot attend public school because of illness, accident, or pregnancy, even with the aid of transportation, are eligible for medical homebound or hospitalized instruction. A. A physician, nurse practitioner, in compliance wi…

43-242. Driver Training. A school program shall include the complete program of driver education, classroom and behind- the-wheel phases, and it shall be provided each semester on an elective basis for eligible students. Schools organized on grades 9-12 or 10-12 basis shall provi…

43-243. VI. Other Areas of Student Conduct Which May Be Regulated by Local School Board Policy A. Other areas of student conduct which are subject to regulation by local school boards include, but are not limited to: 1. School attendance; 2. Use of and access to public school pro…

43-243.1. The Criteria for Entry into Programs of Special Education for Students with Disabilities. A. General Requirements These criteria for entry into programs of special education for students with disabilities will be used by all members of the multidisciplinary team, who ma…

43-243.2. Educational Interpreters for Students Who Are Deaf. Deaf students, pursuant to an Individualized Education Program (IEP), may be afforded an Educational Interpreter to provide access to the school curriculum and environment including their extracurricular activities by …

43-243.4. Repealed by State Register Volume 38, Issue No. 6, Doc. No. 4396, eff June 27, 2014. Editor’s Note Former R. 43-243.4 was titled Utilization of General Teacher Certification and had the following history: Amended by State Register Volume 29, Issue No. 6, eff June 24, 20…

43-258.1. Advanced Placement. I. DEFINITION OF ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES Advanced Placement (AP) Courses: Courses developed by the College Board with prescribed curricula and tests for which students receive high school credit and for which students scoring at an acceptable leve…

43-259. Adult Education. I. The State High School Equivalency Diploma The State Board of Education (SBE) will issue a state high school equivalency diploma to eligible candidates who successfully complete a SBE approved high school equivalency test. The SBE authorizes the adminis…

43-260. Repealed by State Register Volume 39, Issue No. 6, Doc. No. 4532, eff June 26, 2015. Editor’s Note Former R. 43-260 was titled Use and Dissemination of Test Results and had the following history: Amended by State Register Volume 23, Issue No. 6, eff June 25, 1999; State R…

43-262. Assessment Program. I. STATEWIDE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM A. The Education Accountability Act of 1998 (EAA), S.C. Code Ann. Section 59-18-310, and the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA) or prevailing federal legislation, 20 U.S.C. Section 6301, et seq. require that the S…

43-262.4. Repealed by State Register Volume 39, Issue No. 6, Doc. No. 4530, eff June 26, 2015. Editor’s Note Former R. 43-262.4 was titled End-of-Course Tests and had the following history: Added by State Register Volume 26, Issue No. 5, Part 1, eff May 24, 2002; Amended by State…

43-265. Parenting/Family Literacy. (Statutory Authority: S.C. Code Ann. §§ 59-5-60(1) (1990) and 59-139-10(A)(1) (Supp. 1998)) I. Program Goals A. To strengthen parent involvement in the learning process of preschool children ages birth through five years B. To promote school rea…

43-267. Early Childhood Assistance Programs — Grades K-3. (Statutory Authority: 1976 Code § 59-5-60 and 1993 Act #135, The Early Childhood Development and Academic Assistance Act) I. Program Goals A. To place an emphasis on early childhood education and prevention. B. To focus th…

43-268. Academic Assistance Programs — Grades 4-12. (1976 Code § 59-5-60 and 1993 Act #135, The Early Childhood Development and Academic Assistance Act) I. Program Goals A. To focus the state’s resources on academic success and prevention of academic problems. B. To establish the…

43-272. School Admission. A. Kindergarten and Grades 1-12: Each kindergarten and first-grade pupil not previously enrolled shall submit a birth certificate or other documentation to verify a birth record in special situations as allowed by a local board of trustees. All students …

43-272.2. State-Level Resolution Process for Disputes Involving Unaccompanied Youth and Homeless Children. (Statutory Authority: 20 U.S.C. § 7844 (Supp. 2003)) The federal Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act requires that each state implement a state- level process to rev…

43-273. Transfers and Withdrawals. Each student transferring or withdrawing shall be given a form showing name, date of birth, grade placement, and attendance record to present to the appropriate school official where he or she is enrolling. Appropriate additional data shall be f…

43-274. Student Attendance. I. Lawful and Unlawful Absences School districts must adopt policies to define and list lawful and unlawful absences. (A) Lawful absences include but are not limited to (1) absences caused by a student’s own illness and whose attendance in school would…

43-279. Minimum Standards of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Enforcement Proce- dures to be Implemented by Local School Districts. I. Expectations for Student Conduct in South Carolina Public Schools The mission of the SCDE is to provide leadership and support so that all public…

43-300. Accreditation Criteria. I. Each school district shall provide the defined program approved by the State Board of Education that complies with standards prescribed for the boards of trustees; district operations; elementary grades; middle grades; secondary grades; career a…

43-302. Palmetto Gold and Silver Awards Program. (Statutory Authority: 1976 Code §§ 59-5-60, 59-18-1100) A. Program Implementation The Palmetto Gold and Silver Awards Program is established to recognize and reward schools for academic achievement. Awards will be established for s…

43-303. Flexibility Through Deregulation Program. (Statutory Authority: S.C. Code Ann. §§ 59-18-1110 and 59-18-1120 (Supp. 2002)) I. Program Implementation The Education Accountability Act, S.C. Code Ann. §§ 59-8-1110 and 59-18-1120 (2002), provide for the recognition of schools …

43-307. Alignment of Assessment and Accountability Elements with the No Child Left Behind Act. I. The State Board of Education and the South Carolina Department of Education will align its assessment and accountability elements with the measures mandated by federal law. II. The S…

43-500. Repealed by State Register Volume 38, Issue No. 6, Doc. No. 4405, eff June 27, 2014. Editor’s Note Former R. 43-500 was titled Operation and Funding of Teacher Training Courses in Mathematics, Science, Reading and Computer Education . ARTICLE 26 CHARTER SCHOOLS

43-51. Certification Requirements; approval of alternative certification; authorization for the SBE to approve additional alternative certification programs. I. Requirements for Certification The applicant must meet all requirements for certification that are in effect in the cur…

43-52. Application for Teaching Credential. I. Required Documentation The State Department of Education (SCDE) teacher certification office requires the following forms of documentation from applicants for teacher certification: A. Certification Application. The applicant must su…

43-53. Credential Classification. I. Types of Credential Classification A. Initial Certificate An initial certificate is valid for three years. Beyond the initial three-year validity period, teachers who do not yet meet the requirements for professional certification, but who are…

43-55. Renewal of Credentials. I. For the purposes of this regulation an educator is defined as any person who holds a professional certificate issued by the South Carolina Department of Education. II. An educator’s professional certificate is valid for five years and expires on …

43-56. Foreign Applicants. Applicants for initial teacher certification who have foreign transcripts or other credentials must consult with appropriate personnel at a regionally or nationally accredited college approved for teacher education purposes or which has programs approve…

43-57. Prior Work Experience. The State Department of Education shall maintain records indicating the work experience for which persons are entitled. 43-57.1. Computing the Experience of Teachers. A. In the computation of experience credit, the following conditions will apply. 1.…

43-57.2. Teaching Experience Acceptable for Credit. A. To receive experience credit, the applicant must provide an official description of the profession- al duties for which he or she wishes to receive the credit. These duties must have been connected to the primary educational …

43-57.5. Military Service. Experience credit may be granted for up to five years of service in the Armed Forces provided the applicant held a valid South Carolina or out-of-state teaching credential prior to or during the period of military service. 43-58. Disciplinary Action on …

43-58.1. Reporting of Terminations of Certain School District Employees. A district superintendent, on behalf of the local board of education, shall report to the Chair of the State Board of Education and the State Superintendent of Education, the name and certificate number of a…

43-601. Procedures and Standards for Review of Charter School Applications. I. DEFINITIONS A. A ‘‘charter school’’ means a public, nonreligious, nonhome-based, nonprofit corporation forming a school that operates by sponsorship of a public school district, the South Carolina Publ…

43-62. Areas of Certification. I. INITIAL CERTIFICATION AREAS AND GRADE SPANS In consultation with the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE), the State Board of Education (SBE) has the authority to establish initial certification areas or fields as well as certification g…

43-63. Requirements for Career and Technology Education Work-Based Certification. A. POLICIES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING CERTIFICATION The policies and regulations governing the certification requirements for Career and Technology Education educators as presented in this document …

43-64. Requirements for Certification at the Advanced Level. I. ADMINISTRATION A. School Principal: Tier 1 (PK-Grade 12) To add certification in the field of School Principal: Tier 1 (PK-Grade 12), an individual must meet the following requirements: 1. Master’s degree from an ins…

43-70. Textbook Adoption Regulation. (Statutory Authority: 1976 Code §§ 59-5-60 and 59-31-550 Code of Laws of South Carolina) SECTION 1. Statutory Authority Pursuant to Sections 59-5-60 and 59-31-550, the State Board of Education shall have the responsibility and duty to adopt th…

43-71. Free Textbooks. (Statutory Authority: 1976 Code §§ 59-5-60 and 59-31-360) Section 1. Free Basal Textbook Enabling Act. Pursuant to Section 59-31-360 to provide ‘‘free basal textbooks’’ in Grades 1 through 12, S. C. State Board of Education does hereby set forth procedures …