South Carolina H 3204: Teacher and State Superintendent of Education credentials

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 3204 Text of Previous Version (Dec. 06, 2024) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 3204

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 
59-26-25 SO AS TO PROVIDE AFTER JULY 1, 2027, A PERSON WHO RECEIVES, RENEWS, OR 
MAINTAINS ANY EDUCATOR CERTIFICATE AUTHORIZED BY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION 
AND ISSUED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL HOLD A MASTER'S DEGREE 
THAT MEETS DEPARTMENT REGULATIONS APPROPRIATE TO HIS TEACHING FIELD AND LEVEL, 
TO PROVIDE THE BOARD MAY NOT AUTHORIZE, AND THE DEPARTMENT MAY NOT AWARD, AN 
EDUCATOR CERTIFICATE TO A PERSON WHO DOES NOT HOLD SUCH A MASTER'S DEGREE, AND 
TO PROVIDE SCHOOL DISTRICTS MAY NOT EMPLOY A TEACHER WHO DOES NOT HOLD SUCH A 
MASTER'S DEGREE; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 59-3-10, RELATING TO APPOINTMENT, 
COMPENSATION, AND QUALIFICATIONS OF THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION, SO 
AS TO PROVIDE A CANDIDATE FOR THE OFFICE OF STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION 
SHALL MEET REQUIRED STATUTORY ACADEMIC AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS OF THAT 
OFFICE, INCLUDING HAVING BEEN AWARDED THE RELEVANT MASTER'S DEGREE, PRIOR TO 
FILING FOR CANDIDACY OR THE FILING IS RENDERED VOID AND THE NAME OF THE 
CANDIDATE MAY NOT APPEAR ON ANY PRIMARY OR GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT FOR THE 
OFFICE OF STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION IN THE ELECTION FOR WHICH THE 
FILING WAS MADE.

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

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

 Section 
59-26-25. After July 1, 2027:

 (1) a 
person who receives, renews, or maintains any educator certificate authorized 
by the State Board of Education and issued by the State Department of Education 
shall hold a master's degree that meets department regulations appropriate to 
his teaching field and level; and

 (2) 
the board may not authorize, and the department may not issue or renew, any 
educator certificate to a person who does not hold such a master's degree; and

 (3) a 
school district may not employ a teacher who does not hold such a master's 
degree.

SECTION 2. Section 59-3-10(B) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 (B)(1) The Superintendent of 
Education must possess:

 (1)(a) the minimum of a 
master's degree and substantive and broad-based experience in the field of 
public education including, but not limited to, service as a classroom teacher, 
principal, other school or school district administrator, school district 
superintendent, or other education policy making body at either the state or 
local level or any combination of them; or

 (2)(b) the minimum of a 
master's degree and substantive and broad-based experience in operational and 
financial management in any field of expertise including, but not limited to, 
finance, economics, accounting, law, or business.

 (2) A candidate for the office of State 
Superintendent of Education must meet the academic and experience requirements 
of item (1), including having been awarded the relevant master's degree, prior 
to filing for candidacy, or the filing is rendered void and the name of the 
candidate may not appear on any primary or general election ballot for the 
office of State Superintendent of Education in the election for which the 
filing was made.

SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval 
by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on December 06, 2024 at 11:00 AM