(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a school is given the flexibility of receiving exemptions from those regulations and statutory provisions governing the defined program provided that, during a three-year period, the following criteria are satisfied:
(1) the school has twice been a recipient of a Palmetto Gold or Silver Award, pursuant to Section 59-18-1100;
(2) the school has met annual improvement standards for subgroups of students in reading and mathematics; and
(3) the school has exhibited no recurring accreditation deficiencies.
(B) Schools receiving flexibility status are released from those regulations and statutory provisions referred to above including, but not limited to, regulations and statutory provisions on class scheduling, class structure, and staffing.
(C) To continue to receive flexibility pursuant to this section, a school must annually exhibit school improvement at or above the state average as computed in the school recognition program pursuant to Section 59-18-1100 and must meet the gains required for subgroups of students in reading and mathematics. A school which does not requalify for flexibility status due to extenuating circumstances may apply to the State Board of Education for an extension of this status for one year.
(D) In the event that a school is removed from flexibility status, the school is not subject to regulations and statutory provisions exempted under this section until the beginning of the school year following notification of the change in status by the State Department of Education. Subsequent monitoring by the State Department of Education in a school that is removed from flexibility status shall not include a review of program records exempted under this section for the period that the school has received flexibility status or for the school year during which the school was notified of its removal from flexibility status.
HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 400, Section 2; 2008 Act No. 282, Section 1, eff June 5, 2008.
Effect of Amendment
The 2008 amendment, in subsection (B), deleted the second sentence relating to promulgation of regulations.
Structure South Carolina Code of Laws
Chapter 18 - Education Accountability Act
Section 59-18-110. Objectives.
Section 59-18-120. Definitions.
Section 59-18-300. Adoption of educational standards in core academic areas.
Section 59-18-325. College entrance and career readiness assessments; summative assessments.
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 59-18-930. Publication of report cards; issuance date; advertising results.
Section 59-18-1100. Palmetto Gold and Silver Awards Program established; criteria.
Section 59-18-1130. Use of funds appropriated for professional development.
Section 59-18-1300. District accountability system; support, development, and review.
Section 59-18-1500 to 59-18-1610. Repealed.
Section 59-18-1615. Definitions.
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 59-18-1940. Pilot district accountability models.