TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, SO AS TO ENACT THE "BACK TO BASICS IN EDUCATION ACT OF 2013" BY ADDING SECTION 59-29-15 SO AS TO ADD CURSIVE WRITING AND MEMORIZATION OF MULTIPLICATION TABLES TO THE REQUIRED SUBJECTS OF INSTRUCTION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, TO REQUIRE STUDENTS DEMONSTRATE COMPETENCE IN EACH SUBJECT BEFORE COMPLETION OF THE FIFTH GRADE, TO PROVIDE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ASSIST THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN IDENTIFYING THE MOST APPROPRIATE MEANS FOR INTEGRATING THIS REQUIREMENT INTO THEIR EXISTING CURRICULUMS, AND TO MAKE THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT APPLICABLE BEGINNING WITH THE 2013-2014 SCHOOL YEAR.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    This act must be known and may be cited as the "Back to Basics in Education Act of 2013".

SECTION    2.    Article 1, Chapter 29, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-29-15.    (A)    In addition to the requirements that writing and arithmetic be subjects of instruction in each school district pursuant to Section 59-29-10, each school district shall:

(1)    provide instruction in cursive writing to ensure that students can create readable documents through legible cursive handwriting by the end of fifth grade; and

(2)    require students to memorize multiplication tables to ensure that students can effectively multiply numbers by the end of fifth grade.

(B)    The State Department of Education shall assist the school districts in identifying the most appropriate means for integrating this requirement into their existing curriculums."

SECTION    3.    The provisions of this section take effect upon approval of the Governor, and are applicable beginning with the 2013-2014 academic year.