Bill Text: SC H4764 | 2011-2012 | 119th General Assembly | Introduced

South Carolina House Bill 4764 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Unexcused absences from school

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 29-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-02-09 - Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works [H4764 Detail]

Download: South_Carolina-2011-H4764-Introduced.html

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-65-95 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IF A STUDENT HAS MORE THAN TEN UNEXCUSED ABSENCES IN ANY PARTICULAR COURSE REQUIRED FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION OR REQUIRED FOR PROMOTION TO THE NEXT HIGHER GRADE, UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE TEACHER OF THE COURSE TO THE PRINCIPAL OF THE SCHOOL AND IN THE PRINCIPAL'S SOLE DISCRETION, THE STUDENT MAY BE ADMINISTERED A KNOWLEDGE-BASED TEST OF THE COURSE CURRICULUM TO DATE PREPARED BY THE TEACHER PURSUANT TO THE COURSE SYLLABUS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT IF THE STUDENT SUCCESSFULLY PASSES THAT TEST, THE STUDENT MUST BE REINSTATED IN THE COURSE AS A STUDENT IN GOOD STANDING WITH ALL UNEXCUSED ABSENCES TO DATE WAIVED.

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

SECTION 1. Article 1, Chapter 65, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-65-95. (A) In administering the provisions of Section 59-65-90 in regard to school absences, if a student has more than ten unexcused absences in any particular course required for high school graduation or required for promotion to the next higher grade, upon the recommendation of the teacher of the course to the principal of the school and in the principal's sole discretion, the student may be administered a knowledge-based test of the course curriculum to date prepared by the teacher pursuant to the course syllabus. If the student successfully passes that test, the student must be reinstated in the course as a student in good standing with all unexcused absences to date waived.

(B) The provisions of this section must be administered consistent with policies and guidelines of the State Department of Education and the governing body of the local school district concerned."

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.