The Senate has passed an amended public school K-12 education reform bill.

The bill which now goes to the House would:

• Pay certification costs for all new teachers, saving them about $500 each.

• Double reimbursement teachers receive for classroom supplies they pay for out-of-pocket from $275 to $550 a year.

• Reduce paperwork teachers must complete for student learning objectives. The excessive paperwork and time required to complete these has been a frequent criticism from teachers.

• Reauthorize the National Board Certification program for teachers. Teachers who complete this rigorous certification process receive an additional $7,500 per year for 10 years.

• Guarantee a 30-minute, duty-free lunch period for elementary school teachers.

• Expand the state-funded 4k program to every district in the state. Students with family income less than 185% of poverty would be eligible for the 4k program.

• Provide summer reading camps for students who are struggling with reading after kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grades.

• Permanently eliminate 3 state-mandated tests: social studies in 5th and 7th grades and science in 8th grade.

• Allow high school graduates who have earned Palmetto Fellows or Life scholarships to use those scholarship funds at technical colleges, not just universities.

• Create scholarships for students who want to attend technical college at little to no cost to pursue careers in critical jobs.

• Create a need-based scholarship for high-poverty students to attend technical college at little to no cost. Students receiving these scholarships would receive intensive career and guidance counseling along with an assigned mentor from business/industry to help ensure success.

• Require a uniform code of ethics and training for school boards.

• Establish a framework for turning around failing schools and allow for removal of elected school boards in chronically failing districts.

“The bill does not address every problem in education,” Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey said. “It certainly makes significant progress.”