S 0439 General Bill, By Setzler
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTIONS
 59-103-200 AND 59-103-210 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR PILOT TESTING AND THEN FULL
 STATEWIDE IMPLEMENTATION OF A PROGRAM OF INFORMATION AND COUNSELING FOR THIS
 STATE'S SIXTH GRADE STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS OR GUARDIANS ON THE IMPORTANCE
 OF RIGOROUS ACADEMIC PREPARATION, THE REQUIREMENTS FOR POST HIGH SCHOOL
 EDUCATION, AND THE FINANCIAL AND OTHER ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR SUCH POST HIGH
 SCHOOL EDUCATION.

   02/03/99  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-9
   02/03/99  Senate Referred to Committee on Education SJ-9

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTIONS 59-103-200 AND 59-103-210 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR PILOT TESTING AND THEN FULL STATEWIDE IMPLEMENTATION OF A PROGRAM OF INFORMATION AND COUNSELING FOR THIS STATE'S SIXTH GRADE STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS OR GUARDIANS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF RIGOROUS ACADEMIC PREPARATION, THE REQUIREMENTS FOR POST HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION, AND THE FINANCIAL AND OTHER ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR SUCH POST HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION.

Whereas, the jobs and careers of the future will demand increasing knowledge and training, and the continued development of South Carolina's economy depends on a more educated citizenry; and

Whereas, changes to requirements for a high school diploma, and the establishment of the STAR diploma and LIFE scholarships recently have been enacted by the General Assembly; and

Whereas, the course choices made early in middle school impact on the education options available to a student during and after high school; and

Whereas, students, with assistance from their parents, develop comprehensive career guidance plans, beginning in grade six, to ensure purposeful programs of study and a strong academic foundation; and

Whereas, one of the education goals of this State and of our nation is to increase the number of youth entering post secondary education. Now, therefore,

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 103 of Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-103-200. The Commission on Higher Education, in conjunction with the Department of Education, the state's public institutions of higher education, and private institutions of higher education which wish to participate, shall develop information packages for sixth grade students and their parents or guardians on the importance of rigorous core courses in middle school and high school, the options of post-secondary education available in South Carolina, the courses required to attend colleges and universities, the importance of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, and the financial requirements and assistance available for students pursuing additional education after high school.

During school year 1999-2000, the commission shall develop the information packages, and to the extent that funds are appropriated by the General Assembly, pilot-test the program in selected school districts. The commission shall report to the Senate Education Committee and the House Education and Public Works Committee on the pilot testing.

Section 59-103-210. After pilot testing, the Commission on Higher Education shall work with this state's public schools, public institutions of higher education, and private higher education institutions wishing to participate, to assist the public schools in providing annually for the state's sixth grade students and their parents or guardians counseling on the importance of rigorous middle school preparation for high school and post secondary options, financial requirements for education after high school, and assistance available for a post secondary education as these students and their parents develop the student's career guidance plan. These sessions are the responsibility of the individual schools and shall be held at each of the state's public schools which house a sixth grade class.

The annual counseling shall be phased in over two years as the Department of Education shall direct and by school year 2001-2002 shall be performed statewide."

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