In previous memos dated April 23, 2024, and July 2, 2024, the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) committed to keep school districts apprised of significant legal developments related to the implementation of the new Rule under Title IX.

The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) has designed custom banners for districts and schools to proudly display in their buildings. The banners are in pursuant to S.C. Code § 59-1-325, “Patriotic depictions in schools,” which in part reads, “every public school shall display the official mottos of the United States and South Carolina, and accurate representations of the United States and South Carolina flags.”

The South Carolina Department of Education requests that each school district complete the attached form with detailed information about your 2024-2025 District Teacher of the Year. Forms should be completed by your designated Teacher of the Year coordinator for your school district.

The Office of Student Support is hosting a series of webinars titled Chronic Absenteeism, Dropout, Truancy, and Incident Management Data Collection, beginning Tuesday, August 20, 2024. These webinars are designed to help participants better understand state and federal data collection and reporting requirements.

Proviso 1.78 of the FY 2024-2025 Appropriations Act authorizes the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) to distribute up to $20,000,000 to public school districts and charter school districts to make upgrades aligned with school safety priorities.

On June 26th, 2024, Governor McMaster signed South Carolina’s FY 2024-2025 budget into law. Budget Proviso 1.120 (SDE: Student Physical Privacy) requires that all South Carolina school districts (to include traditional public schools, charter schools, and special schools,1) must designate multi-occupancy restrooms and changing facilities for use only by members of one sex and prohibits students of the opposite sex from using the same bathrooms, changing facilities, overnight sleeping quarters, shared bathrooms, locker rooms, and shower rooms.

On May 21, Governor McMaster signed into law H. 4624, a bill relating to Gender Reassignment Procedures. The main portion of the law bans gender reassignment procedures for children under the age of 18. However, the law also adds § 59-32-3 to the Code of Laws, which sets forth requirements for education professionals when it comes to the biological sex and gender identity of minor students.

As referenced in the previous Regulation 43-170 memorandum, the Department of Education is required to create and provide the complaint form in advance of the August 1st effective date.

The United States Youth Senate Program (USSYP), a national nonpartisan initiative to provide an annual opportunity for talented high school students with demonstrated leadership abilities to deepen their understanding of America’s political processes and strengthen their resolve to pursue careers in public service, was established in 1962 by U.S. Senate Resolution. It is a unique educational experience for outstanding high school students. Each year, two student leaders from each state get to spend a week in Washington, D.C., experiencing their national government in action. In addition to this all-expenses paid trip with once in a lifetime opportunities, students who attend Washington Week in its entirety receive a $10,000 scholarship for higher education.

As outlined in the Memorandum titled “Ongoing Updates to OSF Process & Procedures (DRAFT),” dated September 7, 2023, the South Carolina Department of Education, Office of School Facilities (OSF) is implementing certain initiatives to improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of Office processes and procedures. These initiatives include all aspects of OSF’s responsibility, to include reviewing and approving construction plans, issuing School Building Permits (SBPs), inspecting school facilities, and issuing Certificates of Approval (CA) for occupancy.

SCDE’s Office of Governmental Affairs closely monitors legislation impacting public education. Below is a summary of legislation that passed in this second year of the two-year legislative session (2024). The memo recapping the first year of this session can be found here.

As outlined in the Memorandum titled “Ongoing Updates to OSF Process & Procedures (DRAFT),” dated September 7, 2023, the South Carolina Department of Education, Office of School Facilities (OSF) is implementing certain initiatives to improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of Office processes and procedures. These initiatives include all aspects of OSF’s responsibility, to include reviewing and approving construction plans, issuing School Building Permits (SBPs), inspecting school facilities, and issuing Certificates of Approval (CA) for occupancy.

The South Carolina Department of Education is pleased to announce the Personalized Learning Team will be launching its third cohort of South Carolina Competency-Based Learning Fellows, a free professional learning opportunity for the 2024–25 school year. South Carolina educators (teachers, instructional coaches, and administrators) who are interested in leading their schools or districts toward making the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate actionable are welcome to apply.

With the signing of H.5100, the General Appropriations Bill for FY 2024-25, the following
provisos were updated or newly included in the budget. This is not a comprehensive list of all
proviso changes, but instead provides a look at some of the more substantial changes in provisos.

A new role, SUNS Coordinator, has been added to the District and Entity Information Management System (DEIMS). Please assign at least one contact to this role. In an effort to update our files, we will also need an updated signed assurance statement from each person assigned as a SUNS Coordinator contact.

The South Carolina Department of Education Office of Assessment and Standards will offer free train-the-trainer professional development for two attendees from each district (preferably those who serve in roles such as district administrators/content specialists). Sessions will consist of face-to-face experiences to focus on the 2025 South Carolina College- and Career-Ready
Mathematics Standards.

The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) announces that the 2024–27 Request for Proposals (RFP) for the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act—Education for Homeless Children and Youths subgrant is now available online. Up to $1,703,506 in funding will be distributed on a competitive basis and the deadline to apply is August 20, 2024.

The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) announces that the 2024–25 Request for Proposals for the Innovation Grant Program grant is now available online. Approximately $15,000,000 in funding will be distributed on a competitive basis and the deadline to apply is
July 31, 2024.

Proviso 1A.37. (SDE EIA: Aid to Districts Draw Down) states, in part, that school districts, Palmetto Unified District, and the Department of Juvenile Justice must work with local law enforcement agencies, and when necessary, state law enforcement agencies in order to ensure that the district has an updated school safety plan in place.

As you are aware, the U.S. Department of Education recently released a new Title IX rule which includes an effective date of August 1, 2024. In April, the SCDE issued a memorandum recommending Districts not implement the new rule at that time, stating “[i]t is possible— even likely—that a court will enjoin the rule prior to its effective date” and promising to consult with the Governor, State Attorney General, and legislative leaders to provide further guidance and analysis as legal challenges to this rule develop.