Transformative education legislation filed on January 24, 2019

Three bills filed today to modernize education system with a focus on students and teachers.

House Speaker Jay Lucas (District 65-Darlington) issued the following statement today:

“It is time for transformative change in South Carolina’s education system. Earlier today, a bipartisan group of lawmakers joined together and introduced The South Carolina Career Opportunity and Access for All Act, a Joint Resolution, and other legislation to tackle the fundamental changes we need to modernize our education system with a primary focus on students and teachers.

These bills take a holistic approach to fixing the system that has left us behind. The bills lay out the blueprint to update the outdated student funding formula created over 40 years ago; will increase base teacher pay; will get more money and resources into the classroom; will free teachers to teach instead of giving unnecessary tests; will hold chronically failing school districts accountable by providing alternative management solutions; will focus on the overall education and workforce pipeline, and get our students ready for a future in higher education, the technical college system, or the workplace.

With Governor McMaster, the Senate, and this body focusing on the much needed substantive changes, now is the time for big, bold actions in our state. Now is the time to bring the way we educate our students into the 21st Century.”