(3) encourage the use of a variety of productive teaching methods; (4) establish new forms of accountability for schools; (5) create new professional opportunities for teachers, including the opportunity to be responsible for the learning program at the school site; and (6) assist South Carolina in reaching academic excellence.; and (7) create new, innovative, and more flexible ways of educating children within the public school system, with the goal of closing achievement gaps between low performing student groups and high performing student groups.” SECTION 4. Section 594040 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 274 of 2006, is further amended to read: 594040. As used in this chapter: “Section (1) A means a public, nonreligious, ‘charter school’ nonhomebased, nonprofit corporation forming a school that operates within a public school district or the South Carolina Public Charter School District, but is accountable to the school board of trustees of that district which grants its charter. Nothing in this chapter prohibits charter schools from offering virtual services pursuant to state law and subsequent regulations defining virtual schools. (2) A charter school: (a) is considered a public school and part of the South Carolina Public Charter School District or local school district in which it is located for the purposes of state law and the state constitution; (b) is subject to all federal and state laws and constitutional provisions prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, gender, national origin, religion, ancestry, or need for special education services; however, an applicant may seek to form a single gender charter school without regard to the gender makeup of that proposed charter school; (c) must be administered and governed by a governing body in a manner agreed to by the charter school applicant and the sponsor, the governing body to be selected, as provided in Section 594050(B)(9); (d) may not charge tuition or other charges pursuant to Section 591990(8) except as may be allowed by the sponsor and is comparable to the charges of the local school district in which the charter school is located.;
(3) encourage the use of a variety of productive teaching methods; (4) establish new forms of accountability for schools; (5) create new professional opportunities for teachers, including the opportunity to be responsible for the learning program at the school site; and (6) assist South Carolina in reaching academic excellence.; and (7) create new, innovative, and more flexible ways of educating children within the public school system, with the goal of closing achievement gaps between low performing student groups and high performing student groups.” SECTION 4. Section 594040 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 274 of 2006, is further amended to read: “Section 594040. As used in this chapter: (1) A ‘charter school’ means a public, nonreligious, nonhomebased, nonprofit corporation forming a school that operates within a public school district or the South Carolina Public Charter School District, but is accountable to the school board of trustees of that district which grants its charter. Nothing in this chapter prohibits charter schools from offering virtual services pursuant to state law and subsequent regulations defining virtual schools. (2) A charter school: (a) is considered a public school and part of the South Carolina Public Charter School District or local school district in which it is located for the purposes of state law and the state constitution; (b) is subject to all federal and state laws and constitutional provisions prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, gender, national origin, religion, ancestry, or need for special education services; however, an applicant may seek to form a single gender charter school without regard to the gender makeup of that proposed charter school; (c) must be administered and governed by a governing body in a manner agreed to by the charter school applicant and the sponsor, the governing body to be selected, as provided in Section 594050(B)(9); (d) may not charge tuition or other charges pursuant to Section 591990(8) except as may be allowed by the sponsor and is comparable to the charges of the local school district in which the charter school is located.;
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