Subcommittee approves education proviso amendments including $400 teacher supply reimbursement and charter-school accountability changes

The Proviso Subcommittee approved a package of education and higher-education proviso amendments covering teacher supplies, rural teacher recruitment, charter-school accountability, higher-education funding transparency, and other targeted changes.

Representative Whitmire introduced an amendment to allow teachers to receive $400 reimbursement per school year for classroom supplies and to clarify the amount is not to be reported as taxable income or withheld from salary. "This provides, though, allows for teachers to receive $400 reimbursement each school year for school supplies. Reimbursement is not to be considered taxable income," Representative Whitmire said. The amendment passed on voice vote.

The committee also approved a proviso establishing the South Carolina Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention and Advancement to focus on recruiting and retaining classroom educators in rural and underserved districts; the amendment restricts program funds from being used to cover all costs associated with hiring international teachers. Representative Whitmire moved the amendment and the committee adopted it.

A separate amendment gives school districts explicit authority to contract with nonprofit organizations to use school buses for certain events, allowing districts to set terms and charges. Representative Steverin Aches said the amendment is optional and gives districts flexibility to require insurance or fees under local agreements. That amendment was approved.

Representative Whitmire offered a proviso affecting charter-school accountability that would suspend code section 59-40-55 (the cited three-year closure trigger) and extend the time frame before closure from three years to five years in cases where 40% or more of enrolled students are performing two or more grade levels behind; the amendment would also require a corrective action plan with academic goals. Representative Kyle Hunter said he intended to vote against the measure: "I intend to vote against this." The amendment passed with one recorded opposition.

Higher education amendments carried by Representative Cobb Hunter and others were also approved. These included changes to the composition of a teacher advisory committee, allowance for South Carolina State University to use carry-forward funds (including for the new School of Agricultural Sciences), a public-relations campaign recommendation for the state technical college system, and a proviso directing the Commission on Higher Education (CHE) to begin audits for transparency and accountability regarding HEAP funds. On the HEAP-related amendment, Representative Cobb Hunter said, "What this proviso will do is ask the commission on higher ed, CHE, to start conducting audits." The committee adopted these amendments by voice vote.

Other actions: an amendment to fund scholarships intended to address shortages of emergency medical personnel was approved; a pilot-program allocation was reduced from $5,000,000 to $2,000,000 at the department's request; and previously appropriated district funds were redirected to repair a historic building where the original project had not moved forward. Committee members moved adoption of the higher education packet and related amendments; the chair announced the ayes had it in each case.

Nut graf: The amendments were described by proponents as technical fixes, transparency measures, and targeted investments to address workforce and operational needs in schools and higher-education institutions; most passed with unanimous or near-unanimous support, with one recorded opposition to the charter-school timing amendment.

The committee closed with a motion to give staff authority to make technical conforming edits to proviso language based on the adopted actions.

Ending: The approved amendments will be incorporated into the committee’s report and staff were authorized to make technical language edits to reflect the subcommittee’s actions.