The "Educator Assistance Act" aims to amend various sections of the South Carolina Code of Laws to enhance support for educators. Key provisions include establishing that professional certificates issued by the State Board of Education are permanent and not subject to renewal, while requiring teachers to continue their professional development. The bill also introduces measures for data collection regarding postsecondary outcomes for high school graduates, mandates policies for unused teacher leave donation to a leave bank, and updates notification requirements for teacher employment and assignments, including salary information and timelines for contract acceptance.

Additionally, the bill revises the number of required days for collegial professional development, increasing it to four days, and allows for more flexibility in how these days are utilized. It recharacterizes certain actions by educators as breaches of contract rather than unprofessional conduct, with revised penalties for such breaches. The bill also repeals outdated sections related to high school reporting requirements. If enacted, the provisions of this act will take effect on July 1, 2025.

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
02/06/2025: 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
02/11/2025: 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
02/12/2025: 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
02/13/2025: 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
04/10/2025: 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
04/16/2025: 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
04/22/2025: 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