(A) Effective July 1, 2001, each school district during annual in-service training shall provide a program of instruction for teachers and administrators in the essentials of constitutional protections and prohibitions as they relate to religion and public school operations. Subjects shall include, but not be limited to:
(1) student prayers;
(2) graduation prayers and baccalaureates;
(3) participation in or encouragement of religious activity by school officials;
(4) religion in school curriculum;
(5) religious content in student assignments;
(6) distribution and use of religious literature;
(7) student participation in religious events before and after school;
(8) religious persuasion versus religious harassment;
(9) religious holidays;
(10) permitted absences from objectionable lessons in religion;
(11) released time for religious instruction;
(12) teaching values;
(13) religious attire;
(14) Federal Equal Access Act;
(15) Federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act;
(16) South Carolina Religious Freedom Act;
(17) other statutory and constitutional provisions regarding the establishment of religion and free exercise thereof, as they relate to a public school context;
(18) instruction on how to access legal advice concerning the establishment of religion and free exercise thereof in a public school context; and
(19) instruction on how to access the State Department of Education's guidelines on religion and the public schools on the department's website.
(B) Once a teacher or administrator has completed the program of instruction contained in this section, it is not necessary that they participate in the same program of instruction on an annual basis. However, such teachers and administrators who have completed the program of instruction shall annually participate in instruction regarding updates and new developments in the subject matter contained in this section.
HISTORY: 2001 Act No. 4, Section 7C.
Structure South Carolina Code of Laws
Section 59-17-10. School districts as bodies politic and corporate.
Section 59-17-20. Alteration or division of school districts.
Section 59-17-50. Consolidation of schools and school districts by county board of education.
Section 59-17-60. Filing order of consolidation.
Section 59-17-70. Effect of consolidation.
Section 59-17-80. Dissolution of school districts in adjoining counties.
Section 59-17-90. Purposes for which school districts may combine.
Section 59-17-100. School districts to provide Department of Education with copies of audit reports.
Section 59-17-120. Reissue of school bonds subject to debt service budget and debt limit.
Section 59-17-135. Character education.
Section 59-17-140. Religion and public schools training for teachers and administrators.
Section 59-17-150. Promotion of walking or bicycling to school safety.
Section 59-17-160. Model fire and safety policy and program guidelines.