South Carolina Code of Regulations Chapter 43 - STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
Here's an enhanced, citation-backed overview of South Carolina Code of Regulations – Chapter 43: State Board of Education, current through Register Vol. 49, No. 3 (March 28, 2025):
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📚 Regulatory Authority & Structure
Statutory Authority: Authorized under S.C. Code § 59‑5‑60 and § 60‑9‑30 (regulations.justia.com).
Updates: Chapter 43 is maintained quarterly; PDF current as of March 28, 2025 .
🧭 Article Breakdown
Article 3 – Certification Regulations
43‑50: All public-school instructional/support staff require a valid SC teaching credential (scstatehouse.gov).
43‑51+: Specifies minimum qualification requirements, including degree, program accreditation, testing, and alternative route approvals (PACE, TFA, ABCTE) (scstatehouse.gov).
43‑64: Defines advanced-level credentials for principals, supervisors, superintendents, and counselors—outlining master’s degree, experience, exams, and program requirements (scstatehouse.gov).
Other sections (43‑52, 55–58) detail application, renewal, foreign/international credentials, military experience credit, and disciplinary actions (ed.sc.gov).
Article 4 – Instructional Materials
Addresses textbook and instructional-media adoption, public review panels, substitution criteria, and appeals (scstatehouse.gov).
Article 19 – Instructional Program
43‑231 (K–5): Sets minimum instructional time (6 hours/day or 1,800 min/week), curriculum areas, class size caps (avg ≤28:1, and ≤21:1 in Grades 1–3), and mandates guidance, library/media, and drug education (scstatehouse.gov).
Additional sections cover high-school programming like graduation requirements, STEM, gifted, CATE (scstatehouse.gov).
Article 23 – Agency & Accreditation Relations
Includes district accreditation standards, Palmetto Gold/Silver awards, NCLB alignment, and flexibility programs .
Article 25 – STEM Training
Governs teacher preparation programs in math, science, and computer education (regulations.justia.com).
Article 26 – Charter Schools
Details charter school authorization, appeals, and regulatory oversight .
Key Amendments & Hot Topics
Graduation Requirement (43‑234): A proposal (Mar 2025) to add Emancipation Proclamation to required Constitution education and remove a now-obsolete phrase (“American institutions and ideals”) (ed.sc.gov).
Book/Media Restrictions (43‑170): New guidelines passed June 2024 granting broader authority to challenge instructional materials under "sexual content" rules; opposed by civil-liberty groups citing risk to academic freedom (aclusc.org).
✅ Summary Table
| Article | Topic | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Teacher Certification | Eligibility criteria, certification tiers, alternative routes |
| 4 | Instructional Materials | Adoption rules, public reviews, substitution & appeal |
| 19 | Curriculum & Instruction | Time standards, class size, K–12 program structure |
| 23 | Agency Relations | Accreditation, awards, NCLB, flexibility |
| 25 | STEM Training | Educator preparation requirements |
| 26 | Charter Schools | Application and regulation processes |
🧭 Why It Matters
Chapter 43 defines the framework for educator credentialing, curriculum standards, instructional materials guidelines, student academic structures, and charter school governance in South Carolina.
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