“S” is for 6-0-1 Law

“S” is for 6-0-1 Law (1924). The 6-0-1 Law, passed in March 1924, guaranteed at least a seven-month school term for all White children. Additionally, it shifted the financial responsibility away from local districts, which often lacked resources, to the state. Under the law, the state paid all teacher salaries for six months--provided that local school districts paid for one month. Counties were encouraged but not required to supply additional funding to further expand the school term.  Prior to this act, local districts funded their own schools largely from property taxes. Consequently, school terms varied widely depending on the resources and property values in individual districts. Although in many ways progressive, the 6-0-1 Law nevertheless reinforced South Carolina's commitment to a racially segregated education system because its provisions did not apply to African Americans.