The bill H. 3327 aims to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws to enhance the Educational Lottery Teaching Scholarship Grants Program. It proposes to provide funding for teachers to obtain a master's degree in their content area, offer full scholarships to undergraduates majoring in education, and establish grants for teachers and certified prospective teachers to repay student loans. The bill also sets forth the terms, conditions, and procedures for these grants and scholarships. Additionally, it introduces a new section stating that students will not qualify for a LIFE scholarship until after completing their freshman year, and it amends the existing HOPE scholarship provisions to include the same requirement.

Furthermore, the bill emphasizes the need for these changes due to low retention rates of scholarship recipients and aims to allocate resources more effectively to improve educational outcomes in South Carolina. The proposed amendments include a priority system for grant distribution based on critical subject needs and stipulate that recipients must agree to teach in public or independent schools for a specified number of years in exchange for the financial support received. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, allowing current scholarship recipients to continue receiving their awards under existing conditions.

Statutes affected:
12/05/2024: 59-150-380, 59-149-170, 59-150-370
02/05/2025: 59-150-380, 59-149-170, 59-150-370
Latest Version: 59-150-380, 59-149-170, 59-150-370
12/06/2024: 59-150-380, 59-149-170, 59-150-370