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TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-63-170 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT STUDENTS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF THIS STATE WHO DO NOT RECOGNIZE ENGLISH AS THEIR FIRST LANGUAGE MAY NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE ORDINARY COURSE OF STUDY APPROPRIATE FOR THEIR GRADE LEVEL UNTIL THEY HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED AN ESTABLISHED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY PROGRAM, TO REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ESTABLISH BY REGULATION AN ENGLISH PROFICIENCY PROGRAM DESIGNED TO INSTRUCT STUDENTS WHO DO NOT RECOGNIZE ENGLISH AS THEIR FIRST LANGUAGE IN THE BASICS OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE SO THAT THEY BECOME PROFICIENT IN THE LANGUAGE, AND TO REQUIRE THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS OF THIS STATE TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM ESTABLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT BEGINNING WITH THE 2012-2013 SCHOOL YEAR.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Article 1, Chapter 63, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 59-63-170. Students in the public schools of this State who do not recognize English as their first language may not participate in the ordinary course of study appropriate for their grade level until they have successfully completed an established English proficiency program. By January 1, 2012, the State Department of Education shall promulgate regulations necessary to establish an English proficiency program designed to instruct students on the basics of the English language so that they may become proficient in the language. The school districts of this State shall implement the program designed by the department beginning with the 2012-2013 school year."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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