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2025-2026 Bill 5137: Uniform Requirements for Interscholastic Activity Participation Act - South Carolina Legislature Online
South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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H. 5137
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Rep. Pope
Document Path: LC-0616WAB26.docx
Introduced in the House on February 10, 2026
Currently residing in the House Committee on
Education and Public Works
Summary: Uniform Requirements for Interscholastic Activity Participation Act
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date
Body
Action Description with journal page number
2/10/2026
House
Introduced and read first time (
House Journal-page 9
)
2/10/2026
House
Referred to Committee on
Education and Public Works
(
House Journal-page 9
)
View the latest
legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
02/10/2026
A bill
TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE
"UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITY PARTICIPATION ACT" BY ADDING
SECTION
59-63-97
SO AS TO ESTABLISH UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENT
PARTICIPATION IN INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES; TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS; TO
LIMIT THE EXCUSAL OF STUDENTS FROM CORE ACADEMIC CLASSES; TO RESTRICT THE USE
OF INSTRUCTIONAL FUNDS FOR INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES; TO ESTABLISH ACADEMIC
ELIGIBILITY AND INDEPENDENT ACADEMIC REVIEW REQUIREMENTS; AND TO PROVIDE
RELATED SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICIES, OVERSIGHT, AND ENFORCEMENT REQUIREMENTS.
B
e it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
S
ECTION 1.
This act may be cited as the "Uniform Requirements for Interscholastic
Activity Participation Act."
S
ECTION 2.
A
rticle 1, Chapter 63, Title 59 of the S.C. Code is
amended by adding:
S
ection
59-63-97
.
(
A) Definitions. For
purposes of this section:
(
1)
"Interscholastic activities" means any school-sponsored program in which
students participate competitively or represent the school in events against
other schools including, but not limited to:
(
a)
athletics, including football, basketball, baseball, soccer, and cheerleading;
(
b)
performing arts, including band, chorus, orchestra, and theater;
(
c)
academic competitions, including debate, robotics, science Olympiad, and math
teams; and
(
d)
other school-sponsored clubs or teams participating in competitions or events
against students from other schools.
(
2)
"Core academic classes" means courses required for graduation under state or
district academic standards, including mathematics, English language arts,
science, social studies, and required foreign languages.
(
B)
(
1) Students shall not be excused from
core academic classes for participation in interscholastic activities,
including practices, games, or competitions against other schools, except when
such participation is unavoidable and occurs under circumstances that are
extraordinary and documented in writing by the school principal.
(
2)
School schedules shall prioritize instructional time; participation in
interscholastic activities shall not result in reduced or compromised academic
instruction.
(
C)
(
1) School instructional budgets shall
not be used to fund interscholastic activities, except for salaries of coaches
or sponsors who are also classroom teachers providing instruction during the
school day.
(
2)
All other costs associated with interscholastic activities including, but not
limited to, equipment, uniforms, travel, meals, lodging, and event fees, shall
be funded through fundraising, sponsorships, fees from participating students,
or work-based arrangements consistent with other extracurricular programs.
(
3)
Families of students participating in interscholastic activities shall
contribute to the costs of participation on the same basis as families of
students participating in other extracurricular programs.
(
D)
(
1) To participate in interscholastic
activities, students in grades nine through twelve must maintain a minimum 2.5
unweighted grade point average in all core academic classes:
(
a)
in the semester preceding participation in the interscholastic activity, if the
interscholastic activity occurs completely within one semester; or
(
b)
in the semester preceding the first semester of participation in an
interscholastic activity if the interscholastic activity occurs over two
consecutive semesters.
(
2)
Academic work, assignments, and grades for student participants shall be
reviewed and verified by personnel completely independent of the
interscholastic activity program, free from influence or pressure from coaches,
sponsors, or school administrators involved in the activity.
(
E)
(
1) Each school district shall adopt
policies consistent with this section and ensure compliance through regular
audits and reporting.
(
2)
Violations of this section shall result in administrative review and
appropriate corrective actions, including temporary suspension of
interscholastic activities funding or participation privileges until compliance
is achieved.
S
ECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval
by the Governor and is applicable beginning with the 2027-2028 School Year.
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This web page was last updated on February 10, 2026 at 1:38 PM