Amend the bill, as and if amended, PART VI, page 57, line 36, by adding an appropriately numbered new SECTION to read:
/SECTION _. Chapter 25, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
Section 59-25-910. The General Assembly finds that South Carolinians have a commitment to public education and a conviction that high expectations for all educators are vital components for achieving professional excellence. It is the policy of the State that educators:
(1) have their professional judgment and discretion concerning disciplinary action or instructional decisions in the classroom, which are made in accordance with written school and district policies provided to faculty, fully respected by school and district officials;
(2) may take appropriate disciplinary measures, including the removal of persistently disruptive students, pursuant to school and district policies as referenced in item (1), to facilitate a learning environment built upon a mutual culture of respect between teachers and their assigned students;
(3) may work in a safe, secure, and orderly environment that is conducive to learning and free from recognized dangers, hazards, or threats that are causing or likely to cause serious injury or disability;
(4) may have an unencumbered daily planning time of not less than thirty minutes each working day, free from meetings, duties, or requirements incompatible with the effective planning of instruction;
(5) are free of excessive and burdensome paperwork related to disciplinary actions, district evaluation procedures, and other administrative inquiries that prevent the fulfillment of teachers' primary directive to implement effective instruction for their students;
(6) are provided additional compensation for work time required above and beyond stated contracted days and established work day parameters for duties associated with their responsibilities as teachers; and
(7) receive, as teachers under induction contracts, leadership and support from school and district personnel, including the assignment of qualified mentors who:
(a) commit to helping them become competent and confident professionals in the classroom; and
(b) offer support and assistance as needed to meet performance standards and professional expectations." /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.