Title 59, Education

(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…

During the 2006-07 school year, the department's school guidance and counseling program model along with career awareness and exploration activities must be integrated into the curricula for students in the first through fifth grades.

Beginning with the 2006-07 school year, counseling and career awareness programs on clusters of study must be provided to students in the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades, and they must receive career interest inventories and information to assist them in the career decision-mak…

(A) As used in this section: (1) "Charter school student" is a child enrolled in a charter school established pursuant to Chapter 40, Title 59. (2) "Governor's school student" is a child enrolled at a Governor's school established pursuant to this title. (3) "Home school student"…

This article may be cited as the "Safe School Climate Act".

Any person entering the premises of any school in this State shall be deemed to have consented to a reasonable search of his person and effects.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, school administrators and officials may conduct reasonable searches on school property of lockers, desks, vehicles, and personal belongings such as purses, bookbags, wallets, and satchels with or without probable cause.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, school principals or their designees may conduct reasonable searches of the person and property of visitors on school premises.

No school administrator or official may conduct a strip search.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, all searches conducted pursuant to this article must comply fully with the "reasonableness standard" set forth in New Jersey v. T.L.O., 469 U.S. 328 (1985). All school administrators must receive training in the "reasonableness…

Notice must be conspicuously posted on school property informing the provisions of this article. The notice must be posted at least at all regular entrances and any other access point to the school grounds. The costs of posting the notice required by this section must be paid by …

As used in this article: (1) "Harassment, intimidation, or bullying" means a gesture, an electronic communication, or a written, verbal, physical, or sexual act that is reasonably perceived to have the effect of: (a) harming a student physically or emotionally or damaging a stude…

(A) A person may not engage in: (1) harassment, intimidation, or bullying; or (2) reprisal, retaliation, or false accusation against a victim, witness, or one with reliable information about an act of harassment, intimidation, or bullying. (B) A school employee, student, or volun…

The General Assembly finds that a child who does not complete his education is greatly limited in obtaining employment, achieving his full potential, and becoming a productive member of society. It is, therefore, the intent of this article to encourage district school boards thro…

School districts which choose to establish, maintain, and operate, either individually or as a cooperative agreement among districts, alternative school programs shall be eligible for funding provided by the General Assembly for this purpose. The program must be operated at a sit…

Eligible alternative school programs shall be provided for, but not limited to, students in grades 6-12 as follows: (1) Students referred for voluntary attendance at the alternative school program and meeting the district criteria to attend based upon a documented need for the at…

Nothing in this article shall abrogate the authority of any public school district and its governing board to take such disciplinary action as it is otherwise empowered by law to take against any student for misconduct including, but not limited to, expulsion, and nothing in this…

Within the requirements of Section 59-1-440, alternative school programs may differ from traditional education programs and schools in scheduling, administrative structure, curriculum, or setting and state requirements may be waived in these areas if such waiver assists the alter…

To be eligible for funding, a district or consortium must submit a plan for the program which includes: (a) mission statement; (b) the policy for the basis of enrollment in the school; (c) location of the alternative school program; and (d) description of how the school will focu…