Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that increases teacher pay, eliminates four statewide tests, and amends the Read to Succeed Law.

Highlights:

• Amends the State Board of Education to include two non-voting advisory members who will serve no longer than 2 years and be the following (Sec. 4):

• A public school student appointed by the Governor for a one-year term; and

• The current South Carolina Teacher of the Year.

• Establishes the Special Council on Revitalizing Education and authorizes it to perform the following duties (Sec. 5):

• Monitor state education and workforce pipelines in order to determine education and training levels required by the State’s employees;

• Identify and recommend improvements regarding efficiency and cooperation between agencies throughout the education and workforce pipelines; and

• Report finding and recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly.

• Specifies that the council will consist of 10 members with the Governor serving as the chairman and will be determined by the following (Sec. 5):

• Three members appointed by the Governor;

• One member appointed by the Speaker of the House;

• One member appointed by the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee;

• One member appointed by the President of the Senate;

• One member appointed by the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee; and

• One member appointed by the Chairman of the Senate Education Committee.

• Specifies that the Governor may delegate their position on the council to the Lieutenant Governor (Sec. 5).

• Requires members to have a background in education, workforce, and economic development and specifies that members will serve five year terms (Sec. 5).

• Requires the Board of Education to review computer related skills at least every 5 years (Sec. 6).

• Repeals the requirement of social studies assessments in grades 3 through 8 (Sec. 7-8).

• Repeals the requirement of a history course and examination for obtaining a high school diploma (Sec. 7).

• Amends the requirements of the Read to Succeed Initiative to requires districts to administer one (or more) of the five literacy and numeracy assessments on students in kindergarten through third grade in order to determine appropriate intervention (Sec. 14).

• Amends the state minimum salary to $35,000 and specifies that salary increases be based on funding provided by the General Assembly, as well as the Education Improvement Act (Sec. 41).

Full Bill Text