Download This Bill in Microsoft Word format

Bill 3313

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                      3313
Type of Legislation:              General Bill GB
Introducing Body:                 House
Introduced Date:                  19990120
Primary Sponsor:                  Breeland
All Sponsors:                     Breeland, Whipper, Sharpe, McMahand, 
                                  Altman, Inabinett, Harrison, Beck, Miller, 
                                  Harrell, J. Hines, Mack, Limehouse
Drafted Document Number:          l:\council\bills\gjk\20160sd99.doc
Residing Body:                    House
Current Committee:                Education and Public Works Committee 21 
                                  HEPW
Subject:                          Interscholastic activities, students to 
                                  have "C" average to participate; 
                                  School Districts, Curriculum


                        History

Body    Date      Action Description                     Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  ______________________________________ _______ ____________
House   19990120  Introduced, read first time,           21 HEPW
                  referred to Committee


                             Versions of This Bill

TO AMEND SECTION 59-39-160, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATING IN INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES BY STUDENTS IN GRADES NINE THROUGH TWELVE, SO AS TO REQUIRE STUDENTS TO HAVE AN OVERALL "C" AVERAGE IN THE PRECEDING SEMESTER AND PASS AT LEAST FOUR ACADEMIC COURSES, INCLUDING EACH UNIT REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION, AND TO REQUIRE DISTRICTS TO GIVE ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE TO THOSE STUDENTS WHO DESIRE TO PARTICIPATE BUT WHO DO NOT HAVE SUCH AN AVERAGE.

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

SECTION 1. Section 59-39-160 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 42 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 59-39-160. To participate in interscholastic activities, students in grades nine through twelve must achieve an overall passing 'C' average and either: in the preceding semester and

(1) pass at least four academic courses, including each unit the student takes that is required for graduation; or

(2) pass a total of five academic courses. Students must satisfy these conditions in the semester preceding participation in the interscholastic activity, if the interscholastic activity occurs completely within one semester or in the semester preceding the first semester of participation in an interscholastic activity if the interscholastic activity occurs over two consecutive semesters and is under the jurisdiction of the South Carolina High School League.

Each school district shall provide academic assistance for those students who aspire to participate but have not maintained a 'C' average in the preceding semester.

Academic courses are those courses of instruction for which credit toward high school graduation is given. These may be required or approved electives. All activities currently under the jurisdiction of the South Carolina High School League remain in effect. The monitoring of all other interscholastic activities is the responsibility of the local boards of trustees. Those students diagnosed as handicapped disabled in accordance with the criteria established by the State Board of Education and satisfying the requirements of their Individual Education Plan (IEP) as required by Public Law 94-142 are permitted to participate in interscholastic activities. A local school board of trustees may impose more stringent standards than those contained in this section for participation in interscholastic activities by students in grades nine through twelve.

The State Board of Education may grant a waiver of the requirements of this section. This waiver may be granted only when a written statement from a school district superintendent and athletic director has been received stating that a student's ineligibility to participate in interscholastic activities is due to misinformation concerning eligibility requirements being provided by district personnel. The State Board of Education shall establish guidelines to administer this section."

SECTION 2. The provisions of Section 59-39-160 of the 1976 Code, as amended by this act, apply beginning with

the school year 1999-2000 and thereafter.

SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

This web page was last updated on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at 9:13 A.M.