South Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

South Carolina House Bill H5166

Introduced
2/11/26  

Caption

Alternative School Program Student Transition Policies

Impact

The bill mandates each school district in South Carolina to adopt a written policy outlining how students enter alternative school placements and how their progress is monitored. This includes the development of ITPs for every student placed in an alternative program, which should set specific academic, behavioral, and attendance goals. The intent is to protect students' rights and maintain educational continuity while ensuring district reporting on transition-related metrics, such as the number of students reintegrating back to their home schools.

Summary

House Bill 5166 aims to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by establishing statewide requirements for student transitions into and out of alternative school programs. This legislation introduces a structured framework to ensure that students in alternative schools are provided with clear, predictable, and supportive transition plans. These plans include individualized transition plans (ITPs), progress monitoring, and reentry criteria that schools must follow to facilitate a successful transition back to students' home schools.

Contention

While the overall goal of HB 5166 is to provide students with the necessary support during transitional phases, some concerns may arise about the implementation and monitoring of these requirements. Critics may argue about the adequacy of resources allocated to ensure these policies are effectively carried out at a district level. Additionally, the potential administrative burden on districts to comply with annual reporting requirements might be a point of contention among local educational stakeholders, raising questions about efficiency versus oversight.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

SC HB3325

Relating to a public school student's transition from an alternative education program to a regular educational environment, including parental rights related to that transition, and the admission of certain students with a criminal or disciplinary history.

SC HF579

A bill for an act relating to certain amounts of school district funding for programs for at-risk students, secondary students who attend alternative programs or alternative schools, or returning dropouts and dropout prevention. (Formerly HSB 157.)

SC SB1537

Transitional housing; reentry programs; licensure

SC HSB157

A bill for an act relating to certain amounts of school district funding for programs for at-risk students, secondary students who attend alternative programs or alternative schools, or returning dropouts and dropout prevention.(See HF 579.)

SC S0425

School meals for students in poverty

SC H5205

College Safety Training Programs for Students

SC H4739

College Safety Training Programs for Students

SC S0234

Requires transition planning for high school students with disabilities, who have a “504” plan, like the transition planning required for high school students with disabilities, who have an individualized education program (IEP).

SC S2214

Requires transition planning for high school students with disabilities, who have a “504” plan, like the transition planning required for high school students with disabilities, who have an individualized education program (IEP).

SC H8462

Requires transition planning for high school students with disabilities, who have a “504” plan, like the transition planning required for high school students with disabilities, who have an individualized education program (IEP).

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.