SOUTH CAROLINA REVENUE AND FISCAL AFFAIRS OFFICE
S
TATEMENT OF ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT
WWW.RFA.SC.GOV • (803)734-3793
This fiscal impact statement is produced in compliance with the South Carolina Code of Laws and House and Senate rules. The focus of
the analysis is on governmental expenditure and revenue impacts and may not provide a comprehensive summary of the legislation.
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H. 3264
Fiscal Impact Summary
This bill requires the S.C. Department of Education (SCDE) to establish the Media Literacy and
Critical Thinking pilot program, which must be implemented and administered by the
department during school years 2026-27 and 2027-28. SCDE must select seven school districts
in diverse parts of the state to participate in the program. Also, the bill requires each pilot
program site to submit a report to SCDE describing the implementation of and the information
gained from the program. Additionally, SCDE must then compile the reports from the pilot
program sites and submit a summary report containing specific information to the House
Education and Public Works Committee and the Senate Education Committee. The pilot
program will terminate on June 30, 2026, unless continued, expanded, or both, by the General
Assembly. Further, SCDE must adopt rules necessary to implement the provisions of the bill.
This bill will have no expenditure impact on SCDE as long as the department is not required to
provide instructional materials for the pilot program. SCDE further indicates that there will be a
cost for the instructional materials for the program, but the department is unable to determine the
cost at this time.
This bill is not expected to have an expenditure impact on the state agency schools as they do not
anticipate being chosen to participate in the pilot program.
The expenditure impact on the seven school districts that will be chosen to participate in the pilot
program is undetermined and will depend on the curricula selected by SCDE. Additionally, it is
unknown at this time which seven districts will participate in the pilot program.
Explanation of Fiscal Impact
Introduced on January 14, 2025
State Expenditure
This bill requires SCDE to establish the Media Literacy and Critical Thinking pilot program,
which must be implemented and administered by the department during school years 2026-27
and 2027-28. SCDE must select seven school districts in diverse parts of the state to participate
in the program. The bill also requires each pilot program site to submit a report to SCDE
describing the implementation of and the information gained from the program before August 1,
2028. SCDE must then compile the reports from the pilot program sites and submit a summary
Bill Number: H. 3264 Introduced on Januar
y 14, 2025
Subject: Media Literac y and Critical Thinking Pilot Program
Requestor: House Education and Public Works
RFA Anal
yst(s): Wren
Impact Date: March 25, 2025
__________________________________
Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director
DISCLAIMER: THIS FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT REPRESENTS THE OPINION AND INTERPRETATION OF THE
AGENCY OFFICIAL WHO APPROVED AND SIGNED THIS DOCUMENT. IT IS PROVIDED AS INFORMATION TO
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSIDERED AS AN EXPRESSION OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT.
Page 2 of 2
H. 3264
report with specific information to the House Education and Public Works Committee before
January 1, 2029. The pilot program will terminate on June 30, 2026, unless continued, expanded,
or both, by the General Assembly. Further, SCDE must adopt rules necessary to implement the
provisions of the bill.
S.C. Department of Education. SCDE indicates that this bill will have no expenditure impact
on the department as long as they are not required to provide instructional materials for the pilot
program. SCDE further indicates that there will be a cost for the instructional materials for the
program, but the department is unable to determine the cost at this time.
State Agency Schools. The Governor’s School for Agriculture at John de la Howe, the
Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics, and the Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School
indicate that the bill will have no expenditure impact since the schools do not anticipate being
chosen to participate in the pilot program. Based upon these responses, we do not anticipate that
the bill will have an expenditure impact on the School for the Deaf and Blind or the Governor’s
School for the Arts and Humanities.
State Revenue
N/A
Local Expenditure
This bill requires SCDE to establish the Media Literacy and Critical Thinking pilot program,
which must be implemented and administered by the department during school years 2026-27
and 2027-28. SCDE must select seven school districts in diverse parts of the state to participate
in the program. The bill also requires each pilot program site to submit a report to SCDE
describing the implementation of and the information gained from the program before August 1,
2028. The pilot program will terminate on June 30, 2026, unless continued, expanded, or both,
by the General Assembly.
The expenditure impact on the seven school districts that will be chosen to participate in the pilot
program is undetermined and will depend on the curricula selected by SCDE. Additionally, it is
unknown at this time which seven districts will participate in the pilot program.
Local Revenue
N/A