South Carolina Code of Laws
Chapter 18 - Education Accountability Act
Section 59-18-110. Objectives.

The system is to:
(1) use academic achievement standards to push schools and students toward higher performance by aligning the state assessment to those standards and linking policies and criteria for performance standards, accreditation, reporting, school rewards, and targeted assistance;
(2) provide an annual report card with a performance indicator system that is logical, reasonable, fair, challenging, and technically defensible, which furnishes clear and specific information about school and district academic performance and other performance to parents and the public;
(3) require all districts to establish local accountability systems to stimulate quality teaching and learning practices and target assistance to low performing schools;
(4) provide resources to strengthen the process of teaching and learning in the classroom to improve student performance and reduce gaps in performance;
(5) support professional development as integral to improvement and to the actual work of teachers and school staff; and
(6) expand the ability to evaluate the system and to conduct in-depth studies on implementation, efficiency, and the effectiveness of academic improvement efforts.
HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 400, Section 2; 2008 Act No. 282, Section 1, eff June 5, 2008.
Effect of Amendment
The 2008 amendment reprinted this section with no apparent change.

Structure South Carolina Code of Laws

South Carolina Code of Laws

Title 59 - Education

Chapter 18 - Education Accountability Act

Section 59-18-100. Performance based accountability system for public education established; "accountability" defined.

Section 59-18-110. Objectives.

Section 59-18-120. Definitions.

Section 59-18-300. Adoption of educational standards in core academic areas.

Section 59-18-310. Development or adoption of statewide assessment program to promote student learning and measure student performance.

Section 59-18-320. Review of field test; general administration of test; accommodations for students with disabilities; adoption of new standards.

Section 59-18-325. College entrance and career readiness assessments; summative assessments.

Section 59-18-330. Coordination and annual administration of National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP).

Section 59-18-340. PSAT, pre-ACT, or tenth grade Aspire tests to assess tenth grade students; availability; use of results.

Section 59-18-350. Cyclical review of state standards and assessments; analysis of assessment results.

Section 59-18-355. Content standards revisions; required approval.

Section 59-18-360. Dissemination of assessment results.

Section 59-18-700. Alignment of criteria for instructional materials with educational standards.

Section 59-18-710. Recommendations regarding state's accreditation system.

Section 59-18-900. Annual report cards; performance ratings; criteria; annual school progress narrative; trustee training; data regulations; military-connected student performance reports.

Section 59-18-910. Cyclical review of accountability system; stakeholders; development of necessary skills and characteristics.

Section 59-18-920. Report card requirements for charter, alternative, and career and technology schools.

Section 59-18-930. Publication of report cards; issuance date; advertising results.

Section 59-18-1100. Palmetto Gold and Silver Awards Program established; criteria.

Section 59-18-1110. Grant of flexibility of receiving exemption from regulations; criteria; continuation of and removal from flexibility status.

Section 59-18-1120. Grant of flexibility of exemption from regulations and statutes to school designated as school/district at-risk; extension to other schools.

Section 59-18-1130. Use of funds appropriated for professional development.

Section 59-18-1300. District accountability system; support, development, and review.

Section 59-18-1310. Consolidation of strategic plans and improvement reports; annual submission dates.

Section 59-18-1500 to 59-18-1610. Repealed.

Section 59-18-1615. Definitions.

Section 59-18-1620. Implementation of tiered system for providing technical and other assistance, professional development, and monitoring for schools and districts; reports.

Section 59-18-1625. Designation as an underperforming school or district; notification; turnaround plan; revised strategic plan.

Section 59-18-1630. Schools receiving overall unsatisfactory rating.

Section 59-18-1635. State-of-education emergency declarations for schools.

Section 59-18-1640. State-of-education emergency declarations for districts.

Section 59-18-1700. Public information campaign; development and approval; funding.

Section 59-18-1910. Homework centers.

Section 59-18-1920. Modified school year or school day schedule; grant program established; application; implementation plan.

Section 59-18-1930. Review of state and local professional development; recommendations for improvement.

Section 59-18-1940. Pilot district accountability models.

Section 59-18-1950. Longitudinal data system.

Section 59-18-1960. School growth measurement system.