H 4727 General Bill, By Govan, Brantley, Brannon, J.H. Neal, Johnson, Parker, 
Alexander, Gilliard, Agnew, Bowers, R.L. Brown, Clyburn, Mack, Munnerlyn, Parks and 
J.E. Smith
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 59-65-10, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976,
 RELATING TO THE COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENT IN SCHOOLS, SO AS TO
 INCREASE FROM SEVENTEEN TO EIGHTEEN THE AGE OF THE CHILD AT WHICH A PARENT OR
 GUARDIAN NO LONGER HAS RESPONSIBILITY TO CAUSE THE CHILD TO ATTEND SCHOOL.

   02/07/12  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 15)
   02/07/12  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works (House Journal-page 15)

H. 4727

TO AMEND SECTION 59-65-10, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENT IN SCHOOLS, SO AS TO INCREASE FROM SEVENTEEN TO EIGHTEEN THE AGE OF THE CHILD AT WHICH A PARENT OR GUARDIAN NO LONGER HAS RESPONSIBILITY TO CAUSE THE CHILD TO ATTEND SCHOOL.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    Section 59-65-10 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 59-65-10.    (A)    All parents A parent or guardians guardian shall cause their children his child or wards ward to attend regularly a public or private school or, kindergarten of this State, or other program which has been approved by the State Board of Education or a member school of the South Carolina Independent Schools' Association or some similar organization, or a parochial, denominational, or church-related school, or other programs which have been approved by the State Board of Education from the school year in which the child or ward is five years of age before September first until the child or ward attains his seventeenth eighteenth birthday or graduates from high school.

(B)    A parent or guardian whose child or ward is not six years of age on or before the first day of September of a particular school year may elect for their his child or ward not to attend kindergarten. For this purpose, the parent or guardian shall sign a written document making the election with the governing body of the school district in which the parent or guardian resides. The form of this written document must be prescribed by regulation of the Department of Education. Upon the written election being executed, that child or ward may not be is not required to attend kindergarten.

(B)(C)    Each school district shall provide transportation to and from public school for all pupils enrolled in public kindergarten classes who request the transportation. Regulations of the State Board of Education governing the operation of school buses shall apply."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.