Download This Version in Microsoft Word format
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
COMMITTEE REPORT
March 18, 2021
H. 3164
Introduced by Reps. McCravy, V.S. Moss, Haddon, Long, McCabe, Trantham, Oremus, McGarry and Burns
S. Printed 3/18/21--H.
Read the first time January 12, 2021.
To whom was referred a Bill (H. 3164) to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section 59-63-105 so as to provide that beginning with the 2022-2023 School Year, 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, SECTION 1, by striking Section 59-63-105(A) and inserting:
/ Section 59-63-105. (A) Beginning with the 2022-2023 School Year, each public school district shall make the following tests available to students receiving home instruction pursuant to Sections 59-65-40, 59-65-45, and 59-65-47 if the test is made available to students attending public schools in the district:
(1) Advanced Placement testing;
(2) Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying test;
(3) Pre-ACT test; and
(4) College and career readiness assessments and summative assessments as administered pursuant to Section 59-18-325. /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
MERITA A. ALLISON for Committee.
Explanation of Fiscal Impact
State Expenditure
This bill requires each public school district to make certain tests available to students receiving home instruction if the tests are made available to students attending public schools in the district. Public school districts must also adopt written policies that specify the date by which these students must register to participate in the testing and must notify parents of students receiving home instruction within their school districts of the registration deadlines and the availability of financial assistance to low-income and needy students. Public school districts must charge students receiving home instruction the same fees as those charged to public school students for the same service. SDE must create a Homeschool Identification Code for use in differentiating students receiving home instruction from the public school students for the testing pursuant to this bill.
State Department of Education. The expenditure impact of this bill on SDE is pending, contingent upon a response from the agency.
State Agency Schools. This bill is not expected to have an expenditure impact on the state agency schools. The Governor's School for Science and Mathematics and the Wil Lou Gray Opportunity indicate that the schools do not have home school students. The Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities indicates that the bill will have no expenditure impact on the agency. Also, the Governor's School for Agriculture at John de la Howe indicates that any expenses pursuant to the provisions of the bill can be managed within current appropriations. Since we anticipate a similar response from the School for the Deaf and Blind, we do not anticipate that this bill will have an expenditure impact on the state agency schools.
Local Expenditure
This bill requires each public school district to make certain tests available to students receiving home instruction if the tests are made available to students attending public schools in the district. Public school districts must also adopt written policies that specify the date by which these students must register to participate in the testing and must notify parents of students receiving home instruction within their school districts of the registration deadlines and the availability of financial assistance to low-income and needy students. Public school districts must charge students receiving home instruction the same fees as those charged to public school students for the same service.
The expenditure impact of this bill on local school districts is pending, contingent upon a response from SDE.
Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director
Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office
TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-63-105 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT BEGINNING WITH THE 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR, PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS SHALL MAKE ADVANCED PLACEMENT TESTING AND CERTAIN OTHER TESTING AVAILABLE TO HOME SCHOOL STUDENTS RESIDING IN THE DISTRICT IF THE TESTS ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS ATTENDING PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICTS, AND TO PROVIDE RELATED DUTIES OF SCHOOL BOARDS AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Article 1, Chapter 63, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 59-63-105. (A) Beginning with the 2022-2023 School Year, each public school district shall make the following tests available to students receiving home instruction pursuant to Section 59-63-100 if the test is made available to students attending public schools in the district:
(1) Advanced Placement testing;
(2) Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying test;
(3) Pre-ACT test; and
(4) College and career readiness assessments and summative assessments as administered pursuant to Section 59-18-325.
(B) Public school districts also shall:
(1) adopt written policies that specify the date by which these students shall register to participate in testing provided in subsection (A); and
(2) notify parents of students receiving home instruction within their school districts of the registration deadlines in item (1) and the availability of financial assistance to low-income and needy students to make the examinations publicly and easily accessible to students receiving home instruction who may qualify to take these exams and assessments.
(C) Public school districts shall charge students receiving home instruction the same fees, if any, charged to public school students for the same service.
(D) The South Carolina Department of Education shall create a Homeschool Identification Code to be used for testing provided in subsection (A) for use in differentiating students receiving home instruction from the public school students."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
This web page was last updated on March 18, 2021 at 4:15 PM