State Sen. Majority Leader Harvey Peeler will be honored Aug. 17 for his role in improving education access for foster children in South Carolina. Peeler will receive the “Legislator of the Year” award at 1 p.m. in the Cherokee County library from the South Carolina Association of Children’s Homes and Family Services. He is being honored for sponsoring an education bill of rights for foster children. It was approved by state lawmakers June 7. South Carolina averages more than 5,000 children in foster care each month. Seventy percent are school-age children. The South Carolina Association of Children’s Home is a nonprofit organization which serves as an advocate in providing family services for abused and neglected children.
“We are very pleased to recognize Harvey Peeler for his efforts to help with the enrollment of foster children in schools across the state,” said Judy Nix, past president of the association and Cherokee Children’s Home Development Director. “Foster children can change schools two or three times in a year. The new law will help provide better access for these children in the state’s education system.”
Peeler’s education bill of rights law requires school districts to assist with enrollment, school records and credit transfers for children in foster care who are starting a new school. The new law requires school districts excuse student absences for court-ordered appearances and treatment services for foster children. A representative from the state Department of Social Services can now access school records of a child in foster care to monitor his or her education process and help place a child in a new school.
“We have always had a good working relationship with the Cherokee County School system,” Nix said. “We have been able to secure a Title 1 tutor to work with these students. The new law will only strengthen our efforts to meet the education needs of children.”
