Title 59, Education

(A) There is created the Beaufort-Jasper Higher Education Commission. The commission is composed of nine members appointed by the Governor. Seven must be residents of Beaufort County, and two must be residents of Jasper County. The appointments for Beaufort County members must be…

(A) The commission may: (1) upon the approval of a majority of its members, enter into contracts with institutions of higher learning upon terms and conditions mutually acceptable to the commission and the institution for the establishment and operation of educational centers to …

The commission shall submit to the Beaufort and Jasper Counties Legislative Delegations at least once a year a written report in which it must show an accounting of all funds under control of the commission, a statement of all receipts and disbursements not previously reported, a…

There is created the Western Carolina Higher Education Commission composed of ten members, two of whom must be from each of the following counties: Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Colleton, and Hampton. The members must be appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of a majo…

The Commission may meet at such times and in such places as the majority of the members deem most desirable. Meetings shall be called by the chairman of the Commission; provided, that in the event the chairman is unable or unwilling to call a meeting, the Commission can be called…

The commission shall encourage higher education in the respective counties and adjacent areas and establish within the area facilities to offer standard freshman and sophomore college courses and other courses as considered desirable. The commission shall also furnish and operate…

To carry out its purpose and objective the Commission, with the approval of a majority of its members, may enter into contracts, make binding agreements, negotiate with educators and educational institutions and, generally, take such actions in its name as are necessary to secure…

To facilitate its work, the Commission may appoint from the respective counties, and from such adjacent areas as deemed appropriate, an educational advisory committee consisting of not less than ten nor more than fifteen members, which shall meet and consult with the Commission f…

The Commission shall keep accurate and detailed records of its meetings and actions and shall, as soon after June thirtieth of each year as is feasible, submit a written report to the legislative delegation from each county which shall include an accounting of all funds the Commi…

This chapter is known as the "South Carolina Nonpublic Post-Secondary Institution License Act".

All enrollment agreements, contracts, and promissory notes or other evidence of indebtedness entered into by nonpublic educational institutions with students or prospective students are void unless the institution holds a valid license, and the agent enrolling the student holds a…

(A) Before a final proceeding to deny, revoke, or suspend a license or permit, the commission shall give to the person to be affected by the decision notice of facts and conduct which warrant the intended action and an opportunity to show compliance with the minimum requirements …

A person aggrieved by the final decision of the commission in refusing to issue a license or permit, or revoking or suspending a license or permit previously granted, is entitled to appeal the commission's order to the Administrative Law Court in accordance with its appellate rul…

(A) Whenever it appears to the commission that any person is or has been violating any provisions of this chapter or the regulations promulgated hereunder, the commission shall request the Attorney General, the solicitor, or any appropriate official having jurisdiction in the cou…

If any provision of this chapter is declared to be invalid or unconstitutional, the declaration shall not invalidate the remaining provisions of this chapter.

As used in this chapter: (1) "Commission" means the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. (2) "Agency" means the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. (3) "Commissioner" means the Chief Executive Officer of the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, or a…

The definition of "nonpublic educational institution" does not include: (1) any degree-granting school, institute, college, junior college, university, or entity chartered by the Secretary of State before 1953; (2) institutions that: (a) are independent or church-related, (b) are…

The commission is the sole authority for licensing nonpublic educational institutions established in South Carolina and for those established elsewhere which want to operate in or confer degrees in this State. The commission may promulgate those regulations as may be necessary fo…

(A) No nonpublic educational institution established in South Carolina or offering a course or program in South Carolina has the authority to operate, to solicit students for enrollment, or to confer degrees or other educational credentials unless a license is first secured from …

No individual, school, board, association, corporation, business, institution, or other entity may use the term "college" or "university" or use any other name, title, literature, catalogs, pamphlets, or descriptive matter which implies that it is an institution of higher learnin…

The commission may set reasonable fees for administration of this chapter including, but not limited to, licenses, agent permits, renewals, penalties for late renewals, penalties for failure to provide information as required, penalties for repeat violations, consultants, complai…

(A) Before an institution is licensed under this chapter, the commission may require that a surety bond be provided by the institution in an amount in compliance with the regulations prescribed by the commission. The obligation of the bond is that the institution, its officers, a…

(A) No person representing a nonpublic educational institution shall solicit students or sell any course or program of instruction unless he first secures a permit from the commission. The application for a permit must be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee as determined by the co…

This chapter may be cited as the "South Carolina Education and Economic Development Act".

(A) By the 2006-07 school year, middle schools and by 2007-08 high schools shall provide students with the services of a career specialist who has obtained a bachelor's degree and who has successfully completed the national Career Development Facilitator (CDF) certification train…

An individual employed by school districts to provide career services pursuant to Section 59-59-100 shall work to ensure the coordination, accountability, and delivery of career awareness, development, and exploration to students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. To ensure t…

During the 2007-08 school year, each public high school shall implement a career guidance program model or prototype as developed or approved by the State Department of Education. At least annually after that, certified school guidance counselors and career specialists, under the…

School guidance counselors and career specialists shall limit their activities to guidance and counseling and may not perform administrative tasks.

By the 2009-10 school year, each high school shall implement the principles of the "High Schools that Work" organizational model or have obtained approval from the Department of Education for another cluster or major organizational model.

An individual graduation plan is a student specific educational plan detailing the courses necessary for the student to prepare for graduation and to successfully transition into the workforce or postsecondary education. An individual graduation plan must: (1) align career goals …

By July 2007, the State Board of Education shall promulgate regulations outlining specific objective criteria for districts to use in the identification of students at risk for being poorly prepared for the next level of study or for dropping out of school. The criteria must incl…

Parental participation is an integral component of the clusters of study system. Beginning with students in the sixth grade and continuing through high school, schools must schedule annual parent counseling conferences to assist parents, guardians, or individuals appointed by the…

(A) The South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce, in collaboration with the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education and the Commission on Higher Education, shall assist the Department of Education, in planning and promoting the career information and em…

(A) The Department of Education shall develop a curriculum, aligned with state content standards, organized around a career cluster system that must provide students with both strong academics and real-world problem solving skills. Students must be provided individualized educati…

Beginning with the 2006-07 academic year, colleges of education shall include in their training of teachers, guidance counselors, and administrators the following: career guidance, the use of the cluster of study curriculum framework and individual graduation plans, learning styl…

(A) By September 2005, the Commission on Higher Education shall convene the Advisory Committee on Academic Programs to address articulation agreements between school districts and public institutions of higher education in South Carolina to provide seamless pathways for adequatel…

With the implementation of the clusters of study system, appropriate resources and instructional materials, aligned with the state's content standards, must be developed or adopted by the State Department of Education and made available to districts.

The State Board of Education, with input from the Education and Economic Development Council, shall promulgate regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

The requirements of this chapter do not apply to private schools or to home schools.

Each phase of implementation of this chapter is contingent upon the appropriation of adequate funding as documented by the fiscal impact statement provided by the Office of State Budget of the State Budget and Control Board. There is no mandatory financial obligation to school di…

This chapter must be implemented fully by July 1, 2012, at which time the council created pursuant to Section 59-59-170 shall cease to exist. The Department of Education shall provide administrative support and staffing to the council to carry out its responsibilities under this …

During the 2005-06 school year, the Department of Education's guidance and counseling model must provide standards and strategies for school districts to use and follow in developing and implementing a comprehensive guidance and counseling program in their districts. This model m…

(A) Before July 1, 2006, the Department of Education shall develop state models and prototypes for individual graduation plans and the curriculum framework for career clusters of study. These clusters of study may be based upon the national career clusters and may include, but ar…

The State Board of Education shall develop a state model for addressing at-risk students. This model shall include various programs and curriculum proven to be effective for at-risk students.

Before July 1, 2007, school districts shall: (1) organize high school curricula around a minimum of three clusters of study and cluster majors. The curricula must be designed to provide a well- rounded education for students by fostering artistic creativity, critical thinking, an…

During the 2006-07 school year, the department shall begin implementing a career development plan for educational professionals in career guidance that provides awareness, training, release time, and preparatory instruction. The plan must include strategies for certified school c…