Current Status Bill Number:3236 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:House Introduced Date:19970115 Primary Sponsor:Townsend All Sponsors:Townsend, Cooper, Maddox, H. Brown, McMahand, Lanford, Mason, Jordan, Stille, Allison, Phillips, Littlejohn, Davenport, Walker, Wilkins, Loftis, Stuart, Spearman, Byrd, Klauber and F. Smith Drafted Document Number:gjk\23050sd.97 Residing Body:House Current Committee:Education and Public Works Committee 21 HEPW Subject:Phonics instruction, school districts, curriculum
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved
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House 19970115 Introduced, read first time, 21 HEPW
referred to Committee
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TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-29-22 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT LOCAL BOARDS OF TRUSTEES ARE ENCOURAGED TO REVIEW AND REVISE EXISTING BOARD POLICIES, LOCAL CURRICULA, AND PROGRAMS OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO REFLECT AND EMPHASIZE BALANCED, INTEGRATED, AND EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS OF READING INSTRUCTION THAT INCLUDE EARLY AND SYSTEMATIC PHONICS INSTRUCTION AND BY ADDING SECTION 59-101-365 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES OFFERING TEACHER EDUCATION CURRICULUMS SHALL ENDEAVOR TO INCORPORATE THE TEACHING OF SYSTEMATIC PHONICS INSTRUCTION IN PRESERVICE EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSES.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 59-29-22. The General Assembly believes that in order for a student to be successful in school, the student must receive a firm foundation in reading. A balanced, integrated, and effective approach to reading instruction is necessary in the primary grades. As part of the integrated approach to the teaching of reading, the process of learning the accurate pronunciation of written words is a necessary component. Phonics is the knowledge of relationships of the symbols of the written language and the sounds of the spoken language and is the most reliable approach to arriving at the accurate pronunciation of a printed work. Therefore, the balanced, integrated, and effective programs utilized in the teaching of reading in the primary grades should include early and systemic phonics instruction.
Local boards of trustees are encouraged to review and revise existing board policies, local curricula, and programs of professional development to reflect and emphasize balanced, integrated, and effective programs of reading instruction that include early and systematic phonics instruction."
SECTION 2. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 59-101-365. Colleges and universities offering teacher education curriculums shall endeavor to incorporate the teaching of systematic phonics instruction in preservice education and professional development courses."
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.