State-mandated enrollment limits in public schools, a key component of Gov. Mark Sanford's 2003 education agenda, fizzled Tuesday.

A House committee that screens K-12 legislation declined to give Sanford's "neighborhood and community schools" idea a favorable recommendation. The vote was 3-to-1 to adjourn debate on the proposal for the remainder of the 2003 legislative session, a polite way of halting action this year.

The rejection was mostly symbolic, however.

The bill was not far enough along in the evaluation process to make it eligible to become law this session.

The same can be said about another Sanford education initiative that did garner a favorable House committee endorsement Tuesday. The governor wants schools to give "conduct" grades on student report cards so parents know how teachers evaluate each child's behavior.

Under South Carolina's legislative rules, both proposals can easily be revived when the Legislature reconvenes in 2004.

Among ideas Sanford outlined in his State of the State address 3½ months ago was a proposal to cap enrollment at all public schools: no more than 500 children in elementary schools, 700 in middle schoolsand 900 in high schools. School systems could be exempt by creating "schools within schools," the governor said.

Sanford lined up friendly sponsors to introduce his enrollment cap bill on March 26, leaving little time for legislators to delve into research on the impact such a mandate might have.

The House K-12 subcommittee heard from educators and their supporters, who questioned the economic impact the community schools bill would have by forcing districts to build more, smaller schools. Some educators noted the Sanford proposal eroded a long-standing policy of allowing communities to decide what's best for their local schools.

Sanford clearly wanted the bill to emerge from the House committee system this year with a favorable vote. Four key aides attended committee hearings last week and again Tuesday.

Chip Campsen, one of Sanford's advisers, was frustrated by the House subcommittee's inaction.

"We're disappointed. I'm not sure what it is they want. But that's how the system here works," the former legislator said.

Democrats Jesse Hines of Darlington and James Neal of Lancaster, along with William Whitmire, R-Oconee, echoed the concerns about money and "local control" expressed by educators.

Only Rep. Donald Smith, R-Aiken, voted with the governor.

Rep. Bob Walker, R-Spartanburg and the subcommittee chairman, didn't weigh in officially but said he would have voted for it to break a tie.

"There's merit both ways," Walker said. "We need to have some meetings to get everybody on board with this. The concept has some merit."

Lobbyists who represent education organizations expressed surprise the enrollment cap bill got pushed aside.

"We heard it was going to pass," said Kathy Maness of the Palmetto State Teachers Association.

In other House education committee news, the panel endorsed a bill that calls for stripping the state Board of Education of its powers. The measure, however, would not disband it.

Like Sanford's initiatives, the state school board bill lacks enough momentum to be considered as a possible law this session.