The "Educator Assistance Act" aims to amend various sections of the South Carolina Code of Laws to enhance the professional environment for educators. Key provisions include establishing that professional certificates issued by the State Board of Education are permanent unless revoked or suspended, eliminating the requirement for teachers to renew these certificates, and mandating ongoing professional development. The bill also introduces measures for data collection regarding postsecondary outcomes for high school graduates, allows teachers to donate unused leave to a leave bank, and sets new notification requirements for teacher employment and assignments, including salary information and timelines for contract acceptance.

Additionally, the bill revises policies related to professional development days, increasing the required days from three to four, and ensures that teachers have self-directed time for planning and preparation. It recharacterizes certain actions as breaches of contract rather than unprofessional conduct, updates penalties for such breaches, and repeals outdated reporting requirements. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and includes provisions to ensure that if any part of the act is deemed unconstitutional, the remaining sections will still remain valid.

Statutes affected:
12/05/2024: 59-25-112, 59-101-145, 59-25-47, 59-25-410, 59-25-420, 59-1-425, 59-25-530, 59-101-130, 59-101-140
Latest Version: 59-25-112, 59-101-145, 59-25-47, 59-25-410, 59-25-420, 59-1-425, 59-25-530, 59-101-130, 59-101-140
12/06/2024: 59-25-112, 59-101-145, 59-25-47, 59-25-410, 59-25-420, 59-1-425, 59-25-530, 59-101-130, 59-101-140