South Carolina H 3209: Designated discliplinary classrooms

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 3209 Text of Previous Version (Dec. 06, 2024) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 3209

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

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

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 
59-63-205 SO AS TO PROVIDE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SHALL ESTABLISH DISCIPLINARY 
CLASSROOMS EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE ASSIGNMENT OF STUDENTS SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINE NOT 
MERITING SUSPENSION OR EXPULSION, TO PROVIDE ASSIGNMENT DECISIONS ARE 
DISCRETIONARY FOR TEACHERS IN CONSULTATION WITH PRINCIPALS AND SCHOOL 
COUNSELORS OR OTHER MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, TO PROVIDE STAFFING AND 
FUNCTION REQUIREMENTS FOR DISCIPLINARY CLASSROOMS, TO REQUIRE THE DEVELOPMENT 
OF INDIVIDUAL PROGRESS PLANS FOR REASSIGNING DISCIPLINARY CLASSROOM STUDENTS TO 
THEIR CLASSROOMS, AND TO PROVIDE RELATED RIGHTS FOR PARENTS AND GUARDIANS OF 
STUDENTS ASSIGNED TO DISCIPLINARY CLASSROOMS.

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

SECTION 1. Article 3, Chapter 63, Title 59 of the S.C. Code is 
amended by adding:

 Section 
59-63-205. (A) Each public school 
in this State shall establish a disciplinary classroom to be used exclusively 
for the temporary assignment of students subject to discipline not meriting 
suspension or expulsion. The decision to make an assignment to the disciplinary 
classroom is in the discretion of the student's teacher in consultation with 
the principal and a certified school guidance counselor or mental health 
professional.

 (B) 
Each disciplinary classroom must be staffed with:

 (1) 
a teacher who shall assist the students with their schoolwork assignments 
provided by their classroom teacher; and

 (2) 
a certified school guidance counselor or mental health professional who shall 
provide counseling services to the student.

 (C) A 
student in a disciplinary classroom must continue to receive schoolwork 
assignments provided by their classroom teacher to ensure the student's 
continued academic progress, while also receiving additional mental health 
counseling and support. The student's teacher, disciplinary classroom teacher, 
principal, and guidance counselor or other mental health professional shall 
collaboratively develop a progress plan to enable the student to continue 
receiving academic instruction while also receiving mental health counseling or 
other counseling and services and support. The goal of the progress plan is to 
return the student to the classroom in a timeframe and manner that balances the 
interests of the student with the best interests of the student's classmates 
and teacher.

 (D) 
When a student is assigned to a disciplinary classroom, the principal shall 
notify, in writing, the parents or legal guardian of the student, giving the 
reason for the assignment and setting a time and place when the student's 
teacher, principal, and guidance counselor or other mental health professional 
available for a conference with the parents or guardian. The conference shall 
be set within three days of the date of the suspension.

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

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This web page was last updated on December 06, 2024 at 10:41 AM