The public is invited to review the proposed statewide program for District Fiscal Practices and Budgetary Conditions as prepared by the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) pursuant to Act 23 of 2017, S.C. Code Ann. § 59-20-90.
On May 9, 2017, Governor McMaster signed into law Act 23, which directed the SCDE to develop and adopt a statewide program on fiscal practices and budgetary conditions.
The law charged the SCDE to work with district superintendents and finance officers to develop and adopt a statewide program with guidelines for:
- (1) identifying fiscal practices and budgetary conditions that, if uncorrected, could compromise the fiscal integrity of a school district; and
- (2) advising a district identified under item (1) to take appropriate corrective actions.
Section 59-20-90 applies to all South Carolina school districts, including the South Carolina Public Charter School District and state agencies that are also local education agencies.
In July 2017, the SCDE convened a task force of district superintendents, financial officers, school district auditors, and staff from the State Auditor to develop the statewide program. The task force was representative of districts in terms of size and geographic area of the state.
The statewide program identifies three escalating levels of fiscal and budgetary concern.
- Fiscal Watch, the lowest level of concern
- Fiscal Caution, an intermediate level of concern
- Fiscal Emergency, the most severe level of concern
Each level contains conditions under which the State Superintendent shall or may declare a level of concern and requires identified districts to develop and submit a financial recovery plan to the SCDE.
The SCDE encourages the public and education stakeholders to provide feedback on the statewide program. Comments will be received through the public feedback form until Monday, January 15, 2018.
Statewide Program on District Fiscal Practices and Budgetary Conditions Guidelines
Public Feedback Form for District Fiscal Practices and Budgetary Conditions
