TO AMEND SECTION 59-1-425, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT THAT SCHOOLS MAKE UP THE DAYS CLOSED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER OR IN OTHER EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES, SO AS TO PROVIDE AN EXCEPTION TO ENABLE DISTRICTS TO FORGIVE THIS REQUIREMENT FOR FIVE DAYS IN A SCHOOL YEAR.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 59-1-425(B) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 260 of 2006, is amended to read:
"(B)(1) Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary Except as provided in item (2), all school days missed because of snow, extreme weather conditions, or other disruptions requiring schools to close must be made up. All school districts shall designate annually at least three days within their school calendars to be used as make-up days in the event of these occurrences. If those designated days have been used or are no longer available, the local school board of trustees may lengthen the hours of school operation by no less than one hour per day for the total number of hours missed or operate schools on Saturday. Schools operating on a four-by-four block schedule shall make every effort to make up the time during the semester in which the days are missed. A plan to make up days by lengthening the school day must be approved by the Department of Education before implementation. Tutorial instruction for grades 7 through 12 may be taught on Saturday at the direction of the local school board. If a local school board authorizes make-up days on Saturdays, tutorial instruction normally offered on Saturday for seventh through twelfth graders must be scheduled at an alternative time.
(2) A local school district board of trustees may, by majority vote of the membership, forgive up to five total days missed in a school year by a school in the district because of snow, extreme weather conditions, or other disruptions requiring the school to close."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.