South Carolina H 4468: Local advisory councils for educating students with disabilities

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4468 Text of Previous Version (Mar. 03, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4468

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

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

Amended

March 3, 2026

H. 4468

Introduced 
by Reps. Erickson, Pedalino and Alexander 

S. Printed 3/3/26--H.

Read the first time April 30, 2025

________

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 
59-33-55 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF LOCAL ADVISORY COUNCILS FOR 
EDUCATING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES FOR EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT AND CHARTER 
SCHOOL authorizer BY ITS RESPECTIVE GOVERNING BODY; TO PROVIDE FOR THE 
MEMBERSHIP, COMPOSITION, DUTIES, AND PURPOSES OF LOCAL ADVISORY COUNCILS; TO 
PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FOR LOCAL ADVISORY COUNCILS; AND TO PROVIDE 
DEADLINES FOR THE CREATION OF RELATED MODEL BYLAWS, THE SUBMISSION OF LOCAL 
ADVISORY COUNCIL BYLAWS FOR APPROVAL, AND THE FIRST MEETINGS OF EACH LOCAL 
ADVISORY COUNCIL.

 Amend Title To Conform

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

SECTION 1. Article 1, Chapter 33, Title 59 of the S.C. Code is 
amended by adding:

 Section 
59-33-55. (A)(1) A local advisory council for 
educating students with disabilities must be established for each local school 
district by its board of trustees and for each charter school authorizer by the 
authorizer's governing body.

 (2) 
The school district board or charter school board shall appoint the members of 
its local advisory council. Membership of a local advisory council must be 
composed of individuals involved in or concerned with the education of students 
with disabilities, including:

 (a) 
parents or legal guardians of students with disabilities enrolled in a school 
in the district or a school of the authorizer, provided such parents and legal 
guardians must comprise at least fifty-one percent of the membership of the 
council;

 (b) 
one student with a disability as determined by an Individual Education Program 
who is enrolled in a school in the district or a school of the authorizer;

 (c) 
one public school administrator from a school in the district or a school of 
the authorizer;

 (d) 
one representative from the district office or employed by the authorizer with 
expertise in special education;

 (e) 
two special education teachers who must be employed by the school district or 
by a school of the authorizer, one of whom works with students in grades K-8 
and one of whom works with students in grades 9-12; and

 (f) 
members of the community at the discretion of the local board.

 (3) 
Terms of initial membership on a local advisory council must be for one year 
after which future terms must be set forth in the council's bylaws pursuant to 
item (5)(a) provided, however, members of local school district advisory 
councils serve at the pleasure of the local school board of trustees.

 (4) 
Ninety days prior to the first meeting of the local advisory council, the 
district or authorizer superintendent shall accept applications from 
individuals interested in serving on a local advisory council. The 
superintendent shall ensure the board membership composition requirements of 
item (2) are met.

 (5) 
A local board of trustees shall adopt bylaws that:

 (a) 
establish terms of service after the initial terms of service, the manner of 
selecting its council chair, and the manner of filling vacancies on the 
council;

 (b) 
ensure at least fifty-one percent of its membership includes parents or 
guardians who have a student with a disability enrolled in the district or 
authorizer's schools; and

 (c) 
other rules and procedures the board considers necessary and appropriate.

 (B) 
The functions of a local advisory council are to:

 (1) 
advise the local board of trustees and district superintendent or charter 
governing board and charter authorizer of the needs of students with 
disabilities including matters of student safety;

 (2) 
comment on district or school improvement plans for students with disabilities;

 (3) 
comment on school compliance with state and federal laws and regulations 
regarding the education of students with disabilities;

 (4) 
advise the South Carolina Advisory Council for Educating Students with 
Disabilities (ACESD) regarding local special education efforts and 
recommendations for improvements to the delivery of special education services 
and instruction; and

 (5) 
serve as advocates for students with disabilities and their parents or 
guardians.

 (C) A 
local advisory council shall:

 (1) 
meet at least four times annually; and

 (2) 
provide an annual report to its local governing body and to the ACESD regarding 
its activities and recommendations as required by subsection (B)(4).

 (D) 
The local school district or charter school authorizer shall provide 
administrative assistance t