South Carolina General Assembly
124th Session, 2021-2022

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Bill 3465

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

COMMITTEE REPORT

March 17, 2021

H. 3465

Introduced by Reps. Gilliam, B. Newton, Atkinson, Long, McCravy, Forrest, Caskey and Felder

S. Printed 3/17/21--H.    [SEC 3/18/21 1:21 PM]

Read the first time January 12, 2021.

            

THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND PUBLIC WORKS

To whom was referred a Bill (H. 3465) to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section 59-26-42 so as to provide a person who holds a professional certificate issued by, etc., respectfully

REPORT:

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)(1)    There is created a study committee to examine the teacher credentialing requirements in this State, the correlation between various quality levels of teacher credentials and student outcomes, and recommend policies to strengthen these credentialing requirements, teacher education programs, and the distribution of teachers with higher credentials in districts based on socioeconomic and geographic factors. The committee shall also examine the need for veteran teachers to continue to meet certificate renewal requirements and the benefits and challenges of the State requiring and funding National Board Teacher Certification.

(2)    The study committee shall recommend policies to support the development of higher standards for teacher credentialing and making teachers with such credentials available in areas of greatest need. It also shall recommend if certification requirements should be required of veteran teachers and, if not, what type of professional development should be mandated. The committee shall also report its finding as to issues the General Assembly should consider regarding National Board Certification.

(B)(1)    The study committee is composed of eleven members, consisting of:

(a)    two members of the Senate appointed by the Chair of the Senate Education Committee;

(b)    two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Chair of the House Education and Public Works Committee;

(c)    two early childhood education, elementary education, or secondary education scholars or faculty members from institutions of higher learning in this State who have research and teaching experience in understanding teacher credentialing standards and the correlation between teacher credentials and student outcomes, one of which shall by appointed by the Chair of the Senate Education Committee and one appointed by the Chair of the House Education and Public Works Committee upon recommendation of the South Carolina Education Dean's Alliance;

(d)    three parents of public school students appointed by the Governor; and

(e)    two members with expertise in teacher certification appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(2)    In making appointments to the study committee, consideration should be given to ensure the inclusion of diverse racial, ethnic, and gender perspectives representing districts throughout the State.

(3)    Vacancies in the study committee's membership must be filled in the manner of original appointment.

(4)    Members of the committee shall serve without per diem, mileage, or other compensation generally provided to members of boards and commissions.

(C)    The Senate Education Committee and the House Education and Public Works Committee shall provide appropriate staffing for the study committee.

(D)    The study committee shall provide a report with recommendations to the General Assembly before January 1, 2022. The study committee shall dissolve upon providing its report to the General Assembly or on January 1, 2022, whichever occurs first.

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

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

MERITA A. ALLISON for Committee.

            

STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT

Explanation of Fiscal Impact

State Expenditure

This bill allows a person who holds a professional certification issued by SDE for twenty or more years and who teaches in this State for twenty or more years to renew the certificate annually by participating in required district professional development without having to satisfy any additional renewal requirements. The provisions of this bill apply notwithstanding to the provisions of the Certificate Renewal Plan developed by the Office of Teacher Certification or any other provision of law.

State Department of Education. SDE indicates that this bill will have no expenditure impact on the agency in FY 2021-22 since it does not alter the duties or responsibilities of the agency.

State Agency Schools. The Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities indicates that the school currently funds professional development and any additional expenses associated with this bill could be managed within current appropriations. The Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School indicates that any expenses associated with this bill can be managed within current appropriations. Based upon these responses, we anticipate that any expenses for the Governor's School for Science and Mathematics, the Governor's School for Agriculture at John de la Howe, and the School for the Deaf and Blind could also be managed within current appropriations. Therefore, this bill is not expected to have an expenditure impact on the state agency schools in FY 2021-22.

Local Expenditure

This bill allows a person who holds a professional certification issued by SDE for twenty or more years and who teaches in this State for twenty or more years to renew the certificate annually by participating in required district professional development without having to satisfy any additional renewal requirements.

SDE surveyed the seventy-nine local school districts and the two charter districts and received responses from nineteen districts. Seventeen of the responding districts indicate that the bill will have no expenditure impact. Two districts indicate that they intend to expend additional funds to expand current professional development programs. Since the bill does not require districts to offer any additional professional development beyond the existing programs, we do not anticipate that this bill will increase expenses of local school districts in FY 2021-22.

Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director

Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-26-42 SO AS TO PROVIDE A PERSON WHO HOLDS A PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR TWENTY OR MORE YEARS AND WHO TEACHES IN THIS STATE FOR TWENTY OR MORE YEARS MAY RENEW ANNUALLY THE CERTIFICATE BY PARTICIPATING IN REQUIRED DISTRICT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT HAVING TO SATISFY ANY ADDITIONAL RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS, AND TO PROVIDE THESE PROVISIONS APPLY NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF THE CERTIFICATE RENEWAL PLAN DEVELOPED BY THE OFFICE OF TEACHER CERTIFICATION OR ANOTHER PROVISION OF LAW.

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

SECTION    1.    Chapter 26, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-26-42.    A person who holds a professional certificate issued by the South Carolina Department of Education for twenty or more years and who teaches in this State for twenty or more years may renew annually the certificate by participating in required district professional development without having to satisfy any additional renewal requirements. The provisions of this section apply notwithstanding the provisions of the Certificate Renewal Plan developed by the Office of Teacher Certification or another provision of law."

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

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