The bill S. 454 seeks to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws concerning charter schools, with a primary focus on enhancing accountability and governance. A significant change includes redefining the term "sponsor" to "authorizer" in Section 59-40-40, clarifying the role of entities that grant charters. The bill mandates that charter schools post their annual audits on their websites and notify their authorizers of any education management contracts, as specified in Section 59-40-50. It also requires authorizers to adopt policies ensuring good governance and accountability, expands the charter application process to include proposed contracts, and establishes a timeframe for public hearings on charter applications.

Further amendments include allowing the Governor to remove members of an authorizer or charter school governing board under specific circumstances, enabling charter schools to terminate contracts with authorizers, and emphasizing the Department of Education's role in reviewing authorizers' policies and performance annually. The bill outlines the responsibilities of authorizers, including approving charter applications, monitoring performance, and submitting annual reports to the Department of Education. It also specifies requirements for charter school applications and establishes procedures for the suspension and removal of governing board members for misconduct. Overall, these changes aim to improve operational standards and oversight of charter schools in South Carolina, ensuring adherence to established practices and enhancing transparency.

Statutes affected:
03/13/2025: 59-40-40, 59-40-50, 59-40-55, 59-40-60, 59-40-70, 59-40-75, 59-40-90, 59-40-115, 59-40-150, 59-40-180
03/19/2025: 59-40-40, 59-40-50, 59-40-55, 59-40-60, 59-40-70, 59-40-75, 59-40-90, 59-40-115, 59-40-150, 59-40-180
04/09/2025: 59-40-40, 59-40-50, 59-40-55, 59-40-60, 59-40-70, 59-40-75, 59-40-90, 59-40-115, 59-40-150, 59-40-180
04/10/2025: 59-40-40, 59-40-50, 59-40-55, 59-40-60, 59-40-70, 59-40-75, 59-40-90, 59-40-115, 59-40-150, 59-40-180
05/01/2025: 59-40-40, 59-40-50, 59-40-55, 59-40-60, 59-40-70, 59-40-75, 59-40-90, 59-40-115, 59-40-150, 59-40-180
Latest Version: 59-40-40, 59-40-50, 59-40-55, 59-40-60, 59-40-70, 59-40-75, 59-40-90, 59-40-115, 59-40-150, 59-40-180