South Carolina H 5171: David Taylor

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 5171 Text of Previous Version (Feb. 11, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 5171

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 
59-25-70 SO AS TO REQUIRE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO MAINTAIN UNIFORM SUBSTITUTE 
TEACHER POLICIES AND TO PROVIDE RELATED REQUIREMENTS FOR THE USE OF SUBSTITUTE 
TEACHERS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASSROOMS AND SERVICES.

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

SECTION 1. Article 1, Chapter 25, Title 59 of the S.C. Code is 
amended by adding:

 Section 
59-25-70. (A) Each school district 
shall adopt and implement a written policy governing the use of substitute 
teachers. This policy must apply uniformly to all instructional settings, 
including general education classrooms, special education classrooms, and 
special education instructional services.

 (B) 
When a teacher or other instructional staff member providing special education 
instruction or services is absent, the district shall make reasonable efforts 
to provide a substitute teacher or other qualified personnel consistent with 
the district's policy for other classrooms.

 (C) A 
school district may not maintain or implement a policy or practice that 
excludes special education classrooms or services from substitute teacher 
coverage.

 (D) 
Nothing in this section requires a substitute teacher assigned to a special 
education classroom or service to hold special education certification unless 
otherwise required by state or federal law.

SECTION 2. This act takes effect on August 1, 
2026.

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This web page was last updated on February 11, 2026 at 01:58 PM