Instructional Materials Review | Regulation 43-170
From the S.C. Department of Education:
To address this challenge, South Carolina has established a clear, transparent, and uniform process that provides certainty for local educators, respects the legitimate prerogatives of parents, and protects students from materials that are not age or developmentally-appropriate.
This new regulation establishes consistent definitions and a two-prong threshold test for local
educators and boards to determine if materials available to students in public schools are (1) age and developmentally appropriate and (2) educationally suitable and aligned with the purpose of South Carolina’s instructional program. It furthermore creates a uniform process for local school boards to review and hold public hearings on complaints raised within its district and establishes an appellate process to the State Board of Education (SBE). The State Board of Education’s authority to promulgate this regulation is established in SC Code 59-5-601 and SC Code 60-9-302.
Please click here to review information regarding Regulation 43-170 on the South Carolina Department of Education’s website.
Before a formal complaint can be filed with the CCSD Board of Trustees, a good faith effort must be made in partnership with the school to address and resolve concerns.
To submit a complaint form to Charleston County School District, please complete the form found at the button above and email the form to communications@charleston.k12.sc.us
South Carolina State
Please see this link for information related to instructional materials appeals made to the S.C. State Board of Education. After the State Board issues a decision, the webpage will include the title, the author’s name, a link to the complaint form with redacted Personally-Identifying Information, the Board’s decision, and the Board’s rationale for arriving at their decision.