South Carolina School Discipline Laws and Regulations

South Carolina Compilation of School

Discipline Laws and Regulations

Prepared: March 20, 2015

Introduction

This compilation presents school discipline-related laws and regulations for U.S. states, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia, and, where available, links to education agency websites or resources related to school discipline and student conduct. The discipline laws and regulations presented in this compilation have been categorized by type of specific discipline issue covered, according to an organizational framework developed by the National Center for Safe and Supportive Learning Environments (NCSSLE). For example, one major category encompasses all laws or regulations governing states or territories that mandate specific disciplinary sanctions (such as suspension) for specific offenses (such as drug possession on school grounds). The school discipline laws and regulations were compiled through exhaustive searches of legislative websites that identified all laws and regulations relevant to each specific category. Compiled materials were subsequently reviewed by state education agency (SEA) representatives in the 50 states, Washington D.C., and the U.S. territories.

Discipline categories were not mutually exclusive. Laws and regulations often appeared across multiple categories. For jurisdictions with more extensive laws covering a breadth of topical areas, relevant sections were excerpted from the larger legislative text for inclusion in the appropriate discipline category. Laws, ordered by chapter and section number, appear first within each category followed by regulations. All laws and regulations listed within categories in the compilation also appear in the sources cited section of the document, which lists laws by chapter and section number and title, and where available, includes active hyperlinks to source websites supported or maintained by state legislatures. Additional links to government websites or resources are provided at the end of this document.

Notes & Disclaimers

To the best of the preparer's knowledge, this Compilation of School Discipline Laws and Regulations is complete and current as of March 2015. Readers should also note that the information in this document was compiled from individual sources that are created by each jurisdiction and which are maintained and updated with varying frequencies. Readers should consult the source information provided directly in order to check for updates to laws and regulations reported in this document or to conduct further research.

For further information, including definitions of the different policy categories, please refer to the Discipline Laws and Regulations Compendium posted on the Center's website.

Prepared by:

Child Trends 7315 Wisconsin Avenue Suite 1200W Bethesda, Maryland 20814

EMT Associates, Inc. 1024 Iron Point Road Suite 100 #1300 Folsom, California 95630

Table of Contents

South Carolina State Codes Cited............................................................................................................. 1

General Provisions ..................................................................................................................................... 4 Authority to develop and establish rules of conduct.................................................................................. 4 Scope ........................................................................................................................................................ 6 Communication of policy ......................................................................................................................... 10

In-School Discipline .................................................................................................................................. 13 Use of multi-tiered discipline approaches ............................................................................................... 13 Teacher authority to remove students from classrooms ......................................................................... 17 Alternatives to suspension ...................................................................................................................... 17 Use of corporal punishment .................................................................................................................... 17 Use of student and locker searches........................................................................................................ 18 Other in-school disciplinary approaches ................................................................................................. 18

Out-of-School and Exclusionary Discipline: Suspensions, Expulsion, Restraint and Seclusion, and Alternative Placements .................................................................................................. 23

Grounds for possible suspension or expulsion ....................................................................................... 23 Grounds for mandatory suspension or expulsion ................................................................................... 27 Limitations, conditions or exclusions for use of suspension and expulsion ............................................ 27 Administrative procedures related to suspension and expulsion ............................................................ 28 In-school suspension .............................................................................................................................. 29 Return to school following removal ......................................................................................................... 33 Use of restraint and seclusion ................................................................................................................. 34 Alternative placements ............................................................................................................................ 34

Disciplinary Approaches Addressing Specific Infractions and Conditions ....................................... 36 Firearms (as required by the Gun-Free Schools Act) ............................................................................. 36 Other weapons ........................................................................................................................................ 37 Students with chronic disciplinary issues ................................................................................................ 38 Attendance and truancy .......................................................................................................................... 39 Substance use......................................................................................................................................... 43 Bullying, harassment, or hazing .............................................................................................................. 47 Other special infractions or conditions .................................................................................................... 49

Prevention and Behavioral Interventions (Non-Punitive) ..................................................................... 51 Prevention ............................................................................................................................................... 51 Behavioral interventions and student support services .......................................................................... 52 Professional development ....................................................................................................................... 54

Monitoring and Accountability ................................................................................................................ 56 Formal incident reporting of conduct violations....................................................................................... 56 Parental notification................................................................................................................................. 57 Reporting and referrals between schools and law enforcement ............................................................. 58 Disclosure of school records ................................................................................................................... 60 Data collection, review, and reporting of disciplinary policies and actions ............................................. 61

School Resource and Safety Officers (SROs/SSOs) and Truant/Attendance Officers...................... 63 Authority and power to implement school arrest..................................................................................... 63 Certification or training ............................................................................................................................ 63 MOUs, authorization, and/or funding ...................................................................................................... 64

State Education Agency Support ............................................................................................................ 66 State model policies and implementation support .................................................................................. 66 Funding appropriations ........................................................................................................................... 68

Other or Uncategorized ............................................................................................................................ 70 Professional immunity or liability ............................................................................................................. 70 Community input or involvement............................................................................................................. 70 Other or Uncategorized ........................................................................................................................... 71

State-Sponsored, Publicly Available Websites or Other Resources on School Discipline .............. 73

South Carolina State Codes Cited

South Carolina Revised Statutes

Title 5. Municipal Corporations

Chapter 7. General Structure, Organization, Powers, Duties, Functions and Responsibilities of All Responsibilities of All Municipalities

5-7-12.

School resource officers; procedures for certain arrests; jurisdiction; employment rights

Title 16. Crimes and Offenses

Chapter 23. Offenses Involving Weapons

Article 5. Miscellaneous Offenses

16-23-420. 16-23-430. 16-23-460.

Possession of firearm on school property; concealed weapons Carrying weapon on school property; concealed weapons Carrying concealed weapons; forfeiture of weapons

Title 59. Education

Chapter 5. State Board of Education

59-5-60. 59-5-65.

General powers of Board Powers and responsibilities of State Board of Education

Chapter 17. School Districts

59-17-135. Character education

Chapter 19. School Trustees

59-19-90.

General powers and duties of school trustees

Chapter 63. Pupils Generally

Article 2. Safe School Climate Act

59-63-110. 59-63-120. 59-63-130. 59-63-140.

59-63-150.

This article may be cited as the 'Safe School Climate Act' Definitions Prohibited conduct; reports by witnesses. Local school districts to adopt policies prohibiting harassment; required components; model policies by State Board of Education; bullying prevention programs Availability of civil or criminal redress; immunity of reporting school employee or volunteer.

Article 3. Discipline

59-63-210.

59-63-217. 59-63-220. 59-63-230. 59-63-235.

Grounds for which trustees may expel, suspend or transfer pupils; petition for readmission; expulsion, suspension, or transfer Barring enrollment of student; grounds; notice and hearing; duration of bar Suspension of pupils by administrator Notices of suspensions; conferences with parents or guardian Expulsion of student determined to have brought firearm to school

South Carolina Compilation of School Discipline Laws and Regulations

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