South Carolina S 421: Participation in school activities and programs

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 421 Text of Previous Version (Mar. 06, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 421

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 AMENDING 
SECTION 59-63-100, RELATING TO PARTICIPATION IN INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES OF 
PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS BY HOME SCHOOL, CHARTER SCHOOL, AND GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL STUDENTS, 
SO AS TO INCLUDE PARTICIPATION IN COCURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, EXTRACURRICULAR 
ACTIVITIES, AND CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION, AND TO PROVIDE EQUAL TREATMENT 
FOR SUCH STUDENTS AND STUDENTS ENROLLED IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT, AND 
TO DEFINE "CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION," "COCURRICULAR ACTIVITIES," AND 
"EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES," AMONG OTHER THINGS.

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

SECTION 1. Section 59-63-100 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 Section 
59-63-100. (A) As used in this 
section:

 (1) "Career and technical education" 
includes, but is not limited to, cosmetology, shop, machining, welding, 
vocational, and technical education.

 (1)(2) "Charter school student" is a child enrolled in a 
charter school established pursuant to Chapter 40, Title 59.

 (3) "Cocurricular activities" include 
any school activities that merge an extracurricular activity with an academic 
course.

 (4) "Extracurricular activities" 
include, but are not limited to, athletics, band, orchestra, chorus, drama, 
theatre, speech, debate, junior reserve officer training corps programs and 
activities, and career and technical education.

 (2)(5) "Governor's school student" is a child enrolled at a 
Governor's school established pursuant to this title.

 (3)(6) "Home school student" is a child taught in accordance 
with Section 59-65-40, 59-65-45, or 59-65-47 and has been 
taught in accordance with one of these sections for a full academic year prior 
to participating in an interscholastic activity pursuant to this section.

 (4)(7) "Interscholastic activities" includes, 
but is include, but are not limited to, 
athletics, music, speech, and other extracurricular activities.

 (B) 
Individual Governor's school students and home school students may not be 
denied by a school district the opportunity to participate in interscholastic 
activities, cocurricular activities, extracurricular 
activities, or career and technical education on the same basis as a full-time 
student enrolled in the district if the:

 (1) 
student meets all school district eligibility requirements with the exception 
of the:

 (a) 
school district's school or class attendance requirements; and

 (b) 
class and enrollment requirements of the associations or 
the school district administering the interscholastic activities, cocurricular activities, extracurricular activities, or career 
and technical education;

 (2) 
student's teacher, in the case of a Governor's school student, certifies by 
submitting an affidavit to the school district that the student fully complies 
with the law and any attendance, class, or enrollment requirements for a 
Governor's school. In addition, a charter school student's teacher, in the same 
manner required by this subsection for a Governor's school student, also must 
certify by affidavit to the student's school district that the student fully 
complies with the law and any attendance, class, or enrollment requirements for 
a charter school in order for the student to participate in interscholastic 
activities, cocurricular activities, extracurricular 
activities, or career and technical education in the manner permitted by 
Chapter 40 of this title;

 (3) 
student participating in interscholastic activities, 
cocurricular activities, extracurricular activities, or career and technical 
education:

 (a) 
resides within the attendance boundaries of the school for which the student 
participates; or

 (b) 
in the case of a Governor's school student, resides or attends a Governor's 
school within the attendance boundaries of the school for which the student 
participates; and

 (4) 
student notifies the superintendent of the school district in writing of his 
intent to participate in the interscholastic activity, 
cocurricular activity, extracurricular activity, or career and technical 
education as a representative of the school before the beginning date of 
the season for the activity in which he wishes to participate.

 (C) 
A public school student who has been unable to maintain academic eligibility is 
ineligible to participate in interscholastic activities as a charter school 
student, Governor's school student, or home school student for the following 
semester. To establish eligibility for subsequent school years, the student's 
teacher shall certify by submitting an affidavit to the school district that 
the student meets the relev