Abolish State Board of Education

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Neal Collins

A constitutional amendment abolishes the State Board of Education, replaces it with (Reserved), and shifts governance to statute with the General Assembly defining duties.

Referred to Committee on Judiciary

Overview / Purpose

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to abolish the State Board of Education by amending Section 1, Article XI of the State Constitution. The amendment would replace the current text describing the Board’s composition, election/appointment method, rotation among counties, and statutory delegation of powers with a single word: “(Reserved).” In effect, the proposal removes the constitutional requirement for a State Board of Education.

Key provisions

Deletes the existing constitutional language that establishes:

A State Board of Education composed of one member from each judicial circuit;
Election of members by legislative delegations of counties within each circuit, with rotation among counties;
One additional member appointed by the Governor;
That the General Assembly specify the Board’s terms, powers and duties by law.

Replaces that text with “(Reserved),” thereby abolishing the constitutional office/requirement.

Directs that the proposed amendment be submitted to the qualified electors at the next general election for representatives.

Provides the exact ballot question wording to be used:

“Must Section 1, Article XI of the Constitution of this State, relating to the State Board of Education, be amended so as to provide that the State Board of Education is abolished? Yes o / No o”

Who would be affected

State-level education governance (the constitutional board would no longer exist).

Elected county/legislative delegations and the Governor (who previously participated in selecting board members).

K–12 students, school districts, superintendents, educators, and local education stakeholders, to the extent that administrative duties, policy-making functions, or oversight performed by the Board are reassigned or altered by statute or other executive/legislative means.

The General Assembly would retain responsibility to specify by law how any remaining duties or governance structures are handled.

Procedural / timeline aspects

This is a constitutional amendment requiring voter approval. The resolution must be placed on the ballot at the next general election for representatives.

Ballot instructions and exact language are included in the text of the resolution.

If voters approve, the Constitution is amended as proposed; implementing statutory or administrative changes would likely be needed to reassign functions formerly exercised by the Board.

Notes and caveats

The materials provided also include text from an unrelated Massachusetts House bill (House No. 3456) concerning group purchasing of energy and renewable projects. That language appears to be from a different jurisdiction and subject matter and is not part of the constitutional amendment described above. Verify the bill’s jurisdiction (the resolution applies to South Carolina’s constitution) and consult the final enrolled resolution or legislative clerk for the definitive version and current status.

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