South Carolina H 3455: School Boards

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 3455 Text of Previous Version (Dec. 06, 2024) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 3455

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 59-17-10, RELATING TO SCHOOL 
DISTRICTS, SO AS TO PROVIDE SCHOOL DISTRICTS SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE 
DISCIPLINE OF STUDENTS WITHIN THAT SCHOOL DISTRICT; BY ADDING CHAPTER 9 TO 
TITLE 59 SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE OFFICE OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS ADMINISTRATION IN 
THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, TO PROVIDE FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF THE EXECUTIVE 
DIRECTOR, TO PROVIDE THE OFFICE OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS ADMINISTRATION TO BE 
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SELECTION AND OVERSIGHT OF LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT 
SUPERINTENDENTS, TO PROHIBIT LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS FROM ENTERING INTO A NEW 
CONTRACT OR EXTENDING A CONTRACT FOR A DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT, TO ABOLISH THE 
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND TO ABOLISH THE EDUCATION OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE; AND 
BY REPEALING CHAPTER 5 OF TITLE 59 RELATING TO THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

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

SECTION 1. Section 59-17-10 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 Section 
59-17-10. (A) Every school district is and shall be a body politic 
and corporate, by the name and style of (a descriptive name may be designated 
by the county board of education or legislative act) School District No (such 
number may be designated by the county board of education or legislative act), 
of County (the name of the county in which the district is situated), the State 
of South Carolina. In that name it may sue and be sued and be capable of 
contracting and being contracted with to the extent of its 
school fund and holding such real and personal estate as it may have or come 
into possession of, by will or otherwise, or as is authorized by law to be 
purchased, all of which shall be used exclusively for school purposes.

 (B) A school district shall be 
responsible for the discipline of students within that school district. The 
school district has the authority to establish rules and regulations concerning 
discipline concerning the students.

SECTION 2. Title 59 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

CHAPTER 9

Office of School Districts Administration

 Section 
59-9-10. The office of School Districts Administration is established within 
the Governor's Office.

 Section 
59-9-20. The office of School Districts Administration shall consist of an 
Executive Director and staff as may be necessary. The Executive Director must 
be appointed by the Governor.

 Section 
59-9-30. The Office of School Districts Administration is responsible for the 
selection and oversight of local school district superintendents.

SECTION 3. As 
of the effective date of this act, a local school district must not enter into 
a new contract for the position of a district superintendent, nor may a local 
school district extend the duration of a current contract for the position of a 
district superintendent.

SECTION 
4.A. Upon the effective date of this act, the State Board of Education is 
abolished and its functions, powers, duties, responsibilities, and authority, 
except as otherwise provided by law, are devolved upon the State Superintendent 
of Education.

B. The 
Code Commissioner is directed to eliminate all references to the State Board of 
Education from the S.C. Code. The Code Commissioner shall deliver a report to 
the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives 
concerning the changes to the S.C. Code reflecting the provisions of this 
section.

C. Chapter 
5, Title 59 of the S.C. Code is repealed.

SECTION 
5.A. Upon the effective date of this act, the Education Oversight Committee is 
abolished, and its powers, duties, responsibilities, and authority, except as 
otherwise provided by law, are devolved upon the State Superintendent of 
Education.

B. The 
Code Commissioner is directed to eliminate all references to the Education 
Oversight Committee from the S.C. Code. The Code Commissioner shall deliver a 
report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives concerning the changes to the S.C. Code reflecting the 
provisions of this section.

SECTION 6. This act takes effect upon approval 
by the Governor.

----XX----

This web page was last updated on December 06, 2024 at 12:06 PM