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H 4257

Excused student absences

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Case Brittain and 17 co-sponsors

Requires districts to allow up to 10 excused absences per year for CTSO or interscholastic activities, with students in good academic standing and accountability for missed work.

Act No. 100
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Bill Summary · H 4257

Summary — H 4257: Excused student absences

Status: Referred to Committee on Education (bill introduced March 27, 2025; committee reports and House action April–May 2025; amended versions and further committee activity July 2025).
Title on the text: amends South Carolina Code to expand and clarify excused-absence policies for certain student activities.

Main purpose

Require each public school district to adopt a uniform policy allowing limited excused absences for students who participate in Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) experiences or interscholastic activities authorized by the school or district — regardless of whether those activities are sanctioned by the South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) or another sanctioning body — while also requiring participating students to be academically in good standing.

Key provisions

  • District policy requirement (Section 59-1-462):

    • Each school district must adopt a policy (within 90 days after the act’s effective date) that:
    • Authorizes excused absences, not to exceed 10 school days per school year, for students to:
      • Participate in CTSO experiences in which participation/outcomes are directed by a certified teacher for competency assessment; or
      • Participate in any interscholastic activity authorized by the school or school district, regardless of SCHSL or other sanctioning status.
    • Includes language ensuring participants are academically in good standing.
    • States that students and their parent/guardian are responsible for obtaining and completing missed assignments while participating.
    • Examples of CTSO participation explicitly noted include state/national FFA events and 4‑H competitions or exhibitions.

  • Conforming changes to State Board regulations (amendments to Sections 59-5-65 and 59-65-90 in versions of the bill):

    • Clarify that the uniform enforcement system must require administrators to approve absences for authorized interscholastic activities (sanctioned or not).
    • Retain provisions on intervention for unlawful absences and related enforcement authority.

  • Effective date: the act takes effect upon approval by the Governor. Districts would have 90 days from that effective date to adopt the required policy.

Who is affected

  • Students in South Carolina public schools who take part in CTSO events (e.g., FFA, 4‑H) and interscholastic activities authorized by schools/districts.
  • Parents/guardians (responsible for work completion oversight).
  • School districts and school administrators (must create/update policies and approve qualifying absences).
  • State agencies (State Department of Education) — limited administrative role in guidance and enforcement.

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Introduced and read in the House March 27, 2025.
  • Committee on Education and Public Works reported favorably with amendment (April 29, 2025).
  • House amended and passed (April 30, 2025; roll call 110–0) and bill was sent to the Senate (May 1, 2025).
  • Subsequent committee activity and substitution/amendments occurred in July 2025 (including references to a substitute bill H4307 and committee recommendations), indicating ongoing legislative consideration and redrafting.

Fiscal impact

  • State and local fiscal analyses included in committee material indicate no significant expenditure impact: State Department of Education and agency schools reported no added costs; local districts may need minor policy updates or training but responding districts reported no expected expenditure impact.

If you want, I can:
- Extract the exact statutory text changes side‑by‑side (old vs. new language), or
- Produce a one-page fact sheet for schools explaining required policy elements and a draft checklist for district implementation.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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