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COMMITTEE REPORT
April 10, 2008
S. 145
Introduced by Senators Malloy, Cleary, McConnell, Ford, Rankin, Knotts, Vaughn, Campsen, Mescher and Fair
S. Printed 4/10/08--S. [SEC 4/11/08 3:49 PM]
Read the first time January 9, 2007.
To whom was referred a Bill (S. 145) to amend Section 59-43-20, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the powers of the State Board of Education, so as to provide, etc., respectfully
That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking all after the enacting words and inserting:
/ SECTION 1. (A) Subject to funds appropriated by the General Assembly, there is created the General Education Development (GED) Pilot Program to be implemented beginning in the 2008-2009 school year. The program shall be designed to allow students, ages sixteen through nineteen, currently enrolled in a high school and who are one to two years behind in high school graduation requirements, the opportunity to remain a high school student while receiving appropriate instruction to achieve a GED diploma. The program shall consist of developing and implementing a self-paced GED preparation program that includes, but is not limited to, academic course work, computer lab work, career readiness certificate preparation, and vocational training.
(B) The program shall be designed by the State Department of Education and shall be modeled after the American Council on Education's GED Options Program. The goal of the program shall be to provide eligible students with a viable opportunity to achieve a GED diploma in a cost effective manner. The program shall be implemented in a limited number of school districts as determined by the amount of funds appropriated by the General Assembly and resources available to the Department of Education to support the pilot schools. The school district must be able to dedicate a classroom solely for the use of the program. A school district selected for the program shall collaborate with the Adult Education Office of the State Department of Education to develop the program and shall make recommendations for improving and possibly expanding the program. The Department of Education shall establish reasonably acceptable standards, guidelines, and minimum requirements for program qualifications in addition to other requirements prescribed in this section. The Adult Education Office of the State Department of Education shall provide a GED trained teacher for each program classroom, with funds from the pilot program paying the teacher's salary. The target program classroom configuration shall consist of a GED trained teacher leading from ten to fifteen qualified students and one to three personal computers. Students participating in the pilot shall spend a minimum of one-half to a full day in a combination of regular high school classes and GED preparation. The State Department of Education shall incorporate parental involvement and participation into the program, and shall develop and implement a contract between and among the student, parent or guardian, and the pilot school.
(C) A parent may request consideration for their child to participate in the program; however, the pilot school shall have the final decision regarding the student's inclusion. To be eligible for the program, the student must:
(1) be currently enrolled in a public high school and reading at a level commensurate to program requirements established by the Department of Education;
(2) be between sixteen through nineteen years of age and be one or two years behind in high school graduation requirements due to poor attendance, study habits, or failure to complete required assignments;
(3) meet any general, academic, or other qualifications or requirements established by the State Department of Education;
(4) have demonstrated the motivation and commitment to completing the pilot program; and
(5) meet school attendance, performance, and behavioral requirements. A pilot high school shall address any related deficiencies according to its normal policies and procedures.
(D) Participation in the program shall not qualify a student as having met the academic requirements as set forth by the South Carolina High School League for interscholastic athletic activities.
(E) Each pilot school shall receive up to fifty-two thousand six hundred fifty dollars, to implement the program. A pilot school shall receive funds only for the actual costs required for the program.
(F) By May 1, 2009, the State Department of Education shall provide the Chairman of the Senate Education Committee and the Chairman of the House of Representatives Education and Public Works Committee an interim evaluation of the success of the program. The report shall include any recommendations for the continuation of the program beyond the 2008 - 2009 school year and for further expansion of the program.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor. /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
JOHN E. COURSON for Committee.
EXPLANATION OF IMPACT:
The State Department of Education estimates the pilot program will have a total cost of $105,300. For fiscal impact purposes, it is assumed that the pilot program will be located in two schools. This cost consists of two adult education teachers at a cost of $70,000 ($35,000 each), including fringe benefits. Costs for computers, printers, and supplies are estimated at $32,000 ($16,000 each) for both pilot districts. A WorkKeys test is an online testing and assessment program that enhances a student's job readiness skills. SDE estimates the total cost for the WorkKeys test to be $1,200. SDE further estimates a $2,100 cost relating to GED examinations ($70 for GED Battery X 30 Students).
Approved By:
Harry Bell
Office of State Budget
TO AMEND SECTION 59-43-20, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE POWERS OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE REGULATIONS CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR THE GENERAL EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT (GED) DIPLOMA ALLOW CANDIDATES TO BE SIXTEEN YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 59-43-20 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 59-43-20. (A) The State Board of Education may:
(1) make and enforce regulations for the organization, conduct, and supervision of adult basic and adult secondary (GED and high school diploma) education;. However, the regulations must allow candidates applying for the state general education development (GED) diploma to be sixteen years of age or older;
(2) determine the qualifications of teachers and issue teaching certificates for teaching adult basic and adult secondary (GED and high school diploma) education classes;
(3) determine the tuition which may be required of persons attending adult basic and adult secondary (GED and high school diploma) education classes;
(4) determine the subjects which may be taught in adult basic and adult secondary (GED and high school diploma) education classes.
(B) The State Board of Education is also responsible for the administration, coordination, and management of adult basic and adult secondary (GED and high school diploma) education for the purpose of facilitating and coordinating adult basic and adult secondary (GED and high school diploma) education programs for South Carolina adults whose level of educational attainment is below high school, as prescribed by state and federal laws and regulations. The State Board of Education and the local school districts are responsible for effective coordination and utilization of literacy councils, the technical education system, the educational television network, nonprofit groups, business and industry representatives, and other state and local agencies and private persons interested in adult basic and adult secondary (GED and high school diploma) education programs to deliver programs to the state's undereducated adult population.
(C) Any funds distributed by the State Board of Education for local literacy councils or programs must be made available to those councils or programs either in kind or in money."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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