Higk Sckool Act INFORMATION AND REGULATIONS ISSUED BY O. B. MARTIN STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION COLUMBIA, S. C. \ ^, 0^ 0. ( To Communities Desiring High Scnools THE LEGISLATURE at its recent session made some marked improvements in the High School Act. The most strik- ing of these are the following: A single district may establish a high school. Trustees of the common school will be trus- tees of the high school in all districts under the amended Act. In rural high school districts aid may be given where there are only fifteen pupils and one teacher in the high school department. High school taxes must be voted by the peo- ple just as other special taxes are voted. The basis of aid will be the character of work and enrollment of pupils rather than the financial basis. Of course there is a financial limit. It will be impossible for a community to get aid unless it makes improvements. Aid may be given to a high school district which does not contain an incorporated town of more than 2,500 people. There are other details in the Act and regulations which I believe will conduce to a better understanding and a better working of the High School Law. Naturally it takes time and thought to work out a high school system which is in itself a component part of a State public school sys- tem. I believe that within the next few years we shall go a long way towards putting a high school within the reach of every boy and girl in every county. The lower grades as well as the colleges and universities will very soon feel the beneficial eff'ects of this work. The procedure in securing a high school is not difficult. This office has furnished to the county superintendents some petition forms. It is necessary to pass these around in the proposed territory and get the signatures of at least forty per cent, of the freeholders. As a rule this not only gets their consent, but it secures their interest. After the petition is signed it should be sent to the County Board of Education. This board will designate a day for an election. The public school trustees will be the election managers. The question of a high school tax may be voted upon in the same way and at the same time, or it may be voted upon at a different time. If a majority of the voters favor the high school, an applica- tion should be made out and addressed to the State Board of Education. This application must first be filed with the County Superin- tendent of Education, and approved by him. Forms for this application may be obtained from County Superintendents or from this office. When the application is received by the State High School Board, the school will be in- spected by an inspector representing the said board. If it is found that the school has com- plied with the law and regulations, the aid will be disbursed through the County Treasury, as provided by the Act. There are a great many communities through- out the State where the advantages of this Act ought to be secured as early as possible. I believe that a great many schools will qualify by the time the session opens in September. Sincerely, O. B. MARTIN, State Superintendent of Education. Columbia, S. C, AprU 3, 1908. Higli Scliool Act As Amended February 19, 1908 Section 1. That it shall be lawful for any common school district which does not contain an incorporated town or city of more than twenty-five hundred inhabitants or for any county, or for any township, or aggregation of adjoining townships, or aggregation of adjoin- ing school districts in which there is no incor- porated town or city of more than twenty-five hundred inhabitants within the State, to estab- lish a high school in the manner and with the privileges herein given. Sec. 2. That any high school territorial unit mentioned in Section 1 of this Act may estab- lish a high school by an election to be held in said proposed high school district upon the question of establishing the same; said election to be ordered upon the written petition of at least forty per cent, of the freeholders within the territory, addressed to the County Board of Education, said election to be conducted in all respects, including the requirements of those who are allowed to vote therein, as elec- tions are now conducted under Section 1208 of the Civil Code of 1902, in reference to special levies for school purposes. If a ma- jority of the votes cast in each school district shall be "For High School," and not "Against High School," the high school shall be estab- lished, and become a body corporate, under the name and style of High School District No. , of County (the State Board to insert the number in order of its establishment in the particular county, and also the name of the proper county). If a single school district establish a high school, the Board of Trustees of that school district shall be the High School Board of Trustees. If any two or more school districts establish a high school, the Board of Trustees in that common school district in which the high school is located, together with the chairman or chair- men of the other common school district or districts within the high school territory, shall constitute the High School Board of Trustees: Provided, That the trustees of any special dis- trict in any incorporated town or city operat- ing under a special Act of the General Assem- bly, shall be trustees of the high school. Sec. 3. That the qualified electors and free- holders in any territory proposing to become a high school district, or any high school dis- trict heretofore established, shall be author- ized to vote a high school tax not exceeding two mills, by the same rules and xmder the same terms as special taxes are now voted under Section 1208 of the Civil Code of 1902: Provided, That any common school district within any high school territorial unit may vote itself out of the high school unit in the same manner as prescribed for its entrance into the high school unit: Provided, That any territorial high school unit which has hereto- fore voted for the establishment of a high school therein shall, upon compliance with the provisions of this Act, be entitled to the pro- visions and benefits thereof. Sec. 4. That any public high school already established, or aiiy number of high school grades in a public school already established — provided, it shall be organized and adopted as a high school by special election as prescribed in Section 2 of this Act — in any high school territory above described, may claim the priv- ilege of this Act: Provided, It conforms to the provisions thereof: Provided, further, That nothing in this Act shall be construed sis a repeal of any of the privileges granted them in the special Acts of the General Assembly. Sec. 5. That a high school maintaining a four years' course of study beyond the branches of learning prescribed to be taught in the com- mon schools of the State, and embracing not fewer than seven grades or school years, shall be known as a four-year high school; a high school maintaining a three years'course beyond the common school course, shall be known as a three-year high school; and one maintaining a two years' course beyond the common school course shall be known as a two-year high school: Provided, That any and all high schools established under authority of this Act shall include in the course of study instruction in manual training, especially in respect to agri- culture and domestic science. Sec. 6. The State High School Board shall provide for the inspection and classification of high schools under this Act. In doing this, it may invite the assistance of such members of the universities and colleges of this State as they may select, and their actual expenses shall be paid out of the fund hereafter appropri- ated from year to year, while actually engaged in the duties devolving upon them. Sec. 7. That the State Board of Education, as now constituted, shall constitute the State High School Board, with full authority to pre- scribe all such regulations as may not be inconsistent with this Act. The State High School Board shall provide rules for the appor- tionment and disbursement of the State aid to the high schools, giving due recognition to the number of years of the high school work, to the number of the courses of study offered, to the enrollment of pupils, the amount of in- dustrial or commercial training given, and to such other matters of local merit as may appear to the board proper after a careful examination of each high school: Provided, That not more than $500 may be given to a two-year high school, nor more than $600 may be given to a three-year high school, nor more than $700 may be given to a four-year high school: Provided, further, That an additional $100 may be given to a township high school, or to a high school embracing as many as six common school districts: Provided, fur- ther, That the board may give additional aid for industrial and cotottiercial courses: Provided, further, That the board may give to any high school levying a special high school tax of not less than one miU, twenty- five dollars for each and every common school district composing that high school unit: Provided, further. That no high school shall receive aid unless it has at least twenty-five high school pupils and two teachers in the high school department: Provided, further, That the board shall give aid to a rural high school with but fifteen high school pupils and one teacher: Provided, further, That no county shall receive more than five per cent, of the annual appropriation provided for under this Act. Sec. 8. The funds raised in the various coun- ties by taxation, subscription, or otherwise, for high school purposes, shall be placed in the County Treasury, together with any appropria- tion received from the State Board of Educa- tion, and shall be paid out only upon the order of the Board of High School Trustees, duly approved by the County Superintendent of Education, Both the Treasurer and the County Superintendent of Education shall keep ac- curate accounts of this fund, as is provided for other public school funds. Sec. 9. That each of the high school districts so established is hereby authorized to receive and use gifts, transfers, bequests or devises of property for corporate purposes, whether they be otherwise conditional, or whether absolute in their terms; and also to issue coupon bonds within the constitutional limit and to dispose of the same to raise money for the purpose of purchasing sites and the erection of buildings thereon, or for the purpose of purchasing im- proved property, suitable for school, or dormi- tory, or mess-haU purposes: Provided, That the question of amount of issue, and the rate of interest, and the time or times of payment of the principal, shall first be submitted to the qualified electors within the said high school district who return real or personal property for taxation, at an election to be held in the same manner as elections for special levies for school district purposes are now required to be submitted under said Section 1208 of said Code: Provided, That a petition for such elec- tion be first addressed to the Board of Trus- tees of said school district signed by a majority of the freeholders therein: And, provided, fur- ther. That an annual interest on said issue shall not exceed six per cent., and that the sale shall not be for less than par and accrued interest. Sec. 10. That the sum of fifty thousand dol- 8 lars ($50,000), or so much thereof as may be necessary, for each of the school years, be- ginning July 1st, 1907, be, and the same is hereby, appropriated to carry out the pro- visions of this Act, and the Ck)mptroller Gen- eral is hereby authorized to draw warrants upon the State Treasurer for such amounts, upon the order of the State Board of Educa- tion, duly signed by the Governor, as Chair- man, and the State Superintendent of Education, as Secretary: Provided, That every high school receiving aid under this Act shall enroU any high school pupil in the county where the school is located, free of tuition: Provided, further, That nothing in this Act shall be construed to mean that pupils of dif- ferent races shall attend the same schools. Sec. 11. This Act shall in nowise interfere with the high schools already established. Approved the 37th day of February, A. D. 1909. Higli Scliool Regulations 1. The application for State aid to a high school must be submitted to the Secretary of the State High School Board, through the County Superintendent of Education; applica- tions in order to receive consideration must be filed prior to October 1 of each year. 3. After the application has been received an inspection and examination shall be made of each school and the condition of each high school district by a high school inspector. If such inspector makes a favorable report the school may be received by the chairman and secretary of the High School Board, subject to the approval of the said board, and the aid shall then be disbursed as provided in the high school law and regulations of the State High School Board. 3. The high school inspector, or inspectors, shall also make an annual inspection of each school, and any school may be dropped from the list of those receiving State aid whenever such school falls below the requirements of the High School Law and regulations of the State High School Board. State aid may be with- held from any high school whenever it becomes evident to the said board that the teaching in said school is ineflBcient. The local high school board shall receive at least two months' notice before the withdrawal of aid. 4. For a high school to receive State aid there must be at least two teachers devoting all their time to high-school teaching: Provided, That if a high school has in it but two teachers, one of whom is the supervising principal of the common school department, four hours a day actual teaching in the high school depart- ment by him shall be accepted as full time. 5. Section 7 of the High School Law provides for aid to be given a rural high school with fifteen high school pupils and one high school teacher. A rural high school is one located in 10 a high school district which does not embrace an incorporated town or city. 6. No aid shall be given to a high school unless the common school department has in it at least two teachers giving full time to teach- ing in the common school department. In no case wiU a high school be established if its establishment cripples the efficiency of the common school. 7. No aid shall be given a high school unless aU the teachers in that department hold first grade certificates for teaching. 8. High schools receiving aid shall continue in session at least thirty-two weeks in each scholastic year: Provided, That the High School Board may give aid to a school running as long as twenty-eight weeks if the circumstances justify the same. 9. In each and every year's work in any class of the high school at least four separate studies must be offered. No recitation periods of less time than thirty minutes will be accepted: Pro- vided, That a recitation period in a rural school may be as short as twenty minutes. 10. Nothing less than the course of study adopted by the State Board of Education for high schools, or its equivalent, will be ac- cepted as high-school work. The high-school course of study issued by the State Board of Education may be used without following the order as laid down in that course. 11. State aid will not be given toward mak- ing permanent improvements such as buildings, seating, heating and other equipment. 12. State aid will be given to a high school only when such aid goes toward increasing the efficiency of the school beyond what it was im- mediately previous to receiving the first appropriation. No aid wiU be given to a high school if such aid be used to decrease the amount of local support to the high school department. Improvements such as increase in the teaching time given in the high school, additional courses of study, lengthening the course of study and increase in the high school salaries, will count as increased efficiency. 13. No aid will be given any high school un- 11 27 LitSKHKl ur <^uii