Resources

The Budget Process (graphic)

The South Carolina House begins debating the upcoming budget this week (March 11). The attached graphic shows how the budget law is drafted and debated, and how amendments called provisos are added. Most education legislation each year is in the form of these provisos, which technically last one year, but which are often added to future budgets, as well. Please reach out to your elected officials early in the budget process to encourage them to oppose provisos which would defund libraries, change school curricula, ban books, or take other important education-related actions without a chance for public comment and feedback.

H. 3866 (student enrollment)

This bill requires all adults enrolling children in school in South Carolina to have one of government-issued photo ID (for example, a passport) at the time of enrolling children in schools. Many South Carolinians do not have these documents (for example only half of Americans have a passport) and the goal of the bill seems to be making it impossible for children of families without documentation to attend school.

"Parental Rights" Bills

This year, the South Carolina legislature has introduced several bills marketed as “parental rights” legislation.  Read on to find out more about what these bills really do, and why they are potentially harmful to South Carolina students and families. 

"Bathroom Bills"

The legislature has also fast-tracked two bills that allow the state to force students, staff, and school visitors to use restrooms and changing facilities that may not align with their gender identities. Click the button to the right to learn more.

Pre-Filed Legislation to Watch 2025-26

The following is a brief rundown, with links to the bills, of some of the legislation ProTruthSC is tracking as we prepare to defend intellectual freedom in South Carolina during the 2025-26 session.

DEI

Nationally, and in South Carolina, we are seeing a significant ramp-up in attacks on a large number of programs that critics have put under the general umbrella of “DEI”. Attacks on these programs endanger important services and serve as a cover for attacks on marginalized communities.

Pre-filed Legislation to Watch 2024-25

The following is a brief rundown, with links to the bills, of some of the legislation ProTruthSC is tracking as we prepare to defend intellectual freedom in South Carolina during the 2024-25 session.

State Board of Education Regulation R43-170

In August, over the bipartisan objection of some top SC legislators, State Board of Education Regulation R. 43-170 went into effect. Here are some things to know know about that regulation.

South Carolina Partners with Prager-U

South Carolina Education Superintendent, Ellen Weaver, has announced a partnership with controversial “edutainment” organization PragerU.

Forced Outing (Act 203)

Forced outing policies may be legally discriminatory, because they target, for example, transgender students who want to use a preferred pronoun or preferred name that is different from their legal name, while allowing others to use the pronouns and names of their choice, without the requirement that those students be reported to their parents or go through a formal process.

UPDATED House Bill 3728 Fact Sheet with House Amendments

House Bill 3728 could prevent public educators from teaching the full truth, subject them to undue surveillance of their instruction, burden them with unnecessary complaint processes, and risk the loss of a significant amount of state funding.

House Bill 3728

House Bill 3728 could prevent public educators from teaching the full truth, subject them to undue surveillance of their instruction, burden them with unnecessary complaint processes, and risk the loss of a significant amount of state funding.

House Bill 4325

House Bill 4325 prevents public school districts, public schools, and public institutions of higher learning in South Carolina from offering instruction that directs or compels students to affirm, adopt, or adhere to the tenets of “critical race theory.” The bill also inaccurately identifies the tenets of “critical race theory.”

House Bill 4343

House Bill 4343 prohibits public schools from, among other things, teaching or promoting any of the “claims, views, or opinions” presented in the 1619 Project. The 1619 Project is a Pulitzer Prize-winning compilation of essays in the New York Times, organized by award-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones, that examines how the legacy of slavery has entrenched racism in different systems throughout our country’s history. HB 4343 also prohibits public schools from making mandatory gender and sexuality diversity trainings or counseling or requiring certain professional development, training or courses related to race and gender. In addition, HB 4343 requires public school websites to provide a detailed list of all instructional materials and curricula used in the school, as well as an electronic form to collect any parental complaints about the curriculum, among other things. The public schools are then required to report the number of curriculum complaints received to the Department of Education. If found to be in violation of these requirements, school districts risk losing millions of dollars in state funding.

House Bill 4392

House Bill 4392 states that teachers of history, civics, U.S. government and politics, or social studies and any other related subjects, “may not be compelled by a policy of a state agency, school district, or school administration to discuss current events or widely debated and currently controversial issues of public policy or social affairs” and prohibits schools from providing courses or awarding credit for student work or learning experiences associated with lobbying for legislation, or social or public policy advocacy, including work with organizations engaged in lobbying or advocacy.

The bill also prohibits a state agency, school district, or school administration from making teachers “affirm a belief in” systemic racism, and prohibits instruction of certain concepts, including that racism or slavery were anything other than “betrayals of” the country’s founding principles, among others.

House Bill 4799

House Bill 4799 states, in part, that “public school districts, public schools, and public institutions of higher learning may not “utilize or require adherence to certain tenants inaccurately characterized as “critical race theory.” Those mischaracterized tenets include, among others, the concepts that “equity . . . is superior to or supplants the concept of equality” and “slavery and racism are anything other than deviations from, betrayals of, or failures to live up to, the authentic founding principles of the United States.” H.B. 4799 imposes new mandates on schools and districts for the collection and reporting of complaints, and requirements for posting all instructional materials and curricula. It also carries stiff penalties that could be devastating for public schools in South Carolina. For example, H.B. 4799 states that “an .. . entity receiving funds appropriated by the General Assembly . . . found to be engaging in” the prohibited activities “must return funding to the Office of the State Treasurer” and “will be precluded from receiving additional funds for that fiscal year and the following ten fiscal years.” The bill also requires that, whenever any public school is found to be in violation of its requirements, all students across the entire school district become entitled to transfer to a private school, which will receive the public funding for that student.

House Bill 4605

House Bill 4605 is expansive and will place restrictions on entities that receive state funding or tax exemption status, including, among other things, public and private schools, institutions of higher learning, nonprofit organizations, and businesses. The bill bans certain state-funded entities from promoting, including as part of discussions or trainings, or compelling individuals to adopt the following concepts, among others: