The bill H. 3245 amends Section 59-63-100 of the South Carolina Code to allow high school students attending private or charter schools to participate in interscholastic athletic programs at public schools under specific conditions. These conditions include residing within the attendance zone of the public school, the private or charter school not being a member of the South Carolina High School League, and the particular sport not being offered by the student's school. Additionally, students must notify the public school superintendent of their intent to try out, pay any sport-specific fees, and meet all eligibility requirements except for certain attendance and enrollment criteria.

The bill also introduces definitions for "private school" and "charter school" to clarify the types of institutions involved. It prohibits public school districts from contracting with private entities that restrict participation of private or charter school students in interscholastic athletics. Furthermore, it ensures that eligibility requirements for new students are not more restrictive than those in place as of January 1, 2025. The provisions of the act do not impose public school policies on private or charter schools regarding academic or extracurricular standards, except for maintaining a certain grade-point average and regular attendance at practices. The act will take effect upon the Governor's approval.

Statutes affected:
12/05/2024: 59-63-100
Latest Version: 59-63-100
12/06/2024: 59-63-100