South Carolina House Bill H3635

South Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/14/25
• Refer: 1/14/25

Caption

Teacher certificate renewal credit requirements

Impact

One of the key impacts of HB 3635 is that successful completion of the professional development program will satisfy all renewal credit requirements for educator certification. This streamlines the certification renewal process, particularly for renewal cycles that begin after June 30, 2026. Additionally, for those cycles already in progress, participation in the program will also count towards fulfilling the requirements, potentially easing burdens on teachers to meet often complex renewal criteria.

Summary

House Bill 3635 aims to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by adding a new section that mandates a state-approved professional development program for all teachers. This program will cover all teaching areas and is intended to keep educators updated on the latest teaching practices and standards. The South Carolina Department of Education will be responsible for annually developing and approving guidelines for this program, ensuring it integrates all existing statutory requirements for professional development. Schools will be required to implement the program as in-service training for teachers at no cost to the educators.

Contention

While the bill is largely aimed at improving educator skills and compliance, there may be points of contention around funding and program implementation. Critics might argue about whether the state can effectively develop and oversee a program that meets the diverse needs of all districts, especially in areas that may require localized approaches to teacher training. Additionally, concerns may arise about the adequacy of resources allocated for this initiative and any implications this could have on local district autonomy over their professional development practices.