Latest news with #EducationOversightCommittee
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SC EOC wants to add a new system to help students be career-ready by graduation
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) – This week in Columbia, the Education Oversight Committee (EOC) voted on a major update to South Carolina's education system; it's what they call the 'South Carolina Tiered Credential System.' This new initiative is designed to make students more career-ready by the time they graduate, giving them the skills and required credentials to step straight into the workforce. Basically, it's a free certificate system that is meant to ensure employers that students are prepared and ready for the workforce. 'They'll be able to really hit the ground running, as we like to say. They'll be ready to go and ready to work in these industries in South Carolina,' said Tenell Felder, who runs Communications for the EOC. The system is broken down into three tiers: Covers basic, industry-specific skills Includes credentials that boost employability Features credentials required for high-wage and high-demand careers 'It's just a nice start that gives you a heads up over other people that might be applying for a job…. If you're needing to work your way through college, it's great to have this because you're going to be able to get into a higher wage job and help pay your way through college if that's what you want to,' said Senator Ross Turner (R – Greenville). Turner, who is a member of the EOC, and Felder agree that this program would also be great for students who do not know exactly what they want to do yet. 'That might give you the opportunity to explore a little bit, to decide, especially with the tiered system, you know, you're not going straight into the, the certifications that you need for a specific industry. You can kind of explore a little bit,' Felder added They say it can also help students learn essential life skills. 'Being explained to you that you got to show up on time, you got to work hard, you've got to be participating, and there's going to be change, and you've got to accept change. Those kinds of skills are going to be good. Whatever they end up doing, even if they don't want to get into something industry specific,' said Turner. Turner said The State Department of Education, Department of Employment and Workforce, and the Southern Regional Education Board have worked with the Education Oversight Committee to develop this system. The Committee is expected to meet again in June. If the updated system is officially approved, it will go into effect in August. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hundreds waitlisted for SC pre-K despite thousands of open seats, report finds
In South Carolina, 400 students are on waitlists for 4K programs, despite thousands of empty seats, according to a state report given Monday, April 14, 2025. (File/) COLUMBIA — Hundreds of 4-year-olds across South Carolina are on waitlists to access state-funded preschool programs, even though there are thousands of open seats, according to a report presented Monday to the state Education Oversight Committee. The state funds a dual system of full-day kindergarten for 4-year-olds deemed 'at risk.' Students are eligible under state law if they qualify for Medicaid or free or reduced-price meals, or if they are homeless, in foster care or show developmental delays. Many public school districts use local property tax dollars to expand that eligibility. The state Department of Education oversees programs in public schools, while First Steps, a separate state agency, oversees state-funded classes in approved private schools and child care centers. As of November, 400 4-year-olds were waiting for spots to open up to enroll at their local public school. At the same time, First Steps 4K reported more than 2,300 open seats, often in the same counties as the districts with the longest waitlists, according to the report. 'It's just a matter of finding an open seat for a child on a waitlist or finding an eligible child for the open seat,' said Jenny May, a committee researcher who presented the report. When 'universal' pre-K really isn't: Barriers to participating abound Because 4K is a one-year program, students who are on the waitlist are unlikely to end up in a preschool program before starting kindergarten. Children need at least 120 days of preschool to prepare, so even if a slot happens to open up toward the end of the school year, they will start kindergarten less ready than other 5-year-olds, according to the study. It's not clear why some 4-year-olds are on a waiting list for a public school when vacancies exist in private programs, May said. In some cases, the issue could be that another preschool program isn't available nearby. The four counties with the longest waitlists — Lexington, Anderson, Berkeley and Newberry — all have at least one First Steps 4K program with availability, according to the report. However, that doesn't account for potential cross-county drives. Other parents may not know that other options are available, May said. Having a person designated to help direct parents to other preschool options, such as the nearest First Steps 4K program with open seats, could help reduce that waitlist, May said. 'It's likely that if we had a more efficient process, we could serve most of the 400 kids on a waitlist on one of the First Steps seats,' May said. The state already has several websites meant to help parents figure out what programs they're eligible for and how to enroll. Palmetto Pre-K, launched in 2020, tells parents whether they're eligible for state-funded preschool programs. First Five SC does the same but includes all early childhood programs with federal or state funding. But having a person parents can call, or who can reach out to families with children on waitlists, could help reach some parents who might not know about the websites or have other concerns, the study suggests. That person, who the committee dubbed a 4K navigator, could then talk parents through the differences in programs, find available seats and answer any other questions parents might have, researchers said. First Steps 4K has a similar program, in which applicants are directed to a central phone line or website that helps parents find the right fit for their child. That has helped prevent First Steps from having its own waitlist, May said. The 4K navigators, who the study suggested trying out in areas with the largest waitlists first, would have a broader knowledge of pre-K programs, the report said. Hundreds of SC preschoolers suspended each year for offenses like hitting, spitting If a school district has a persistent waitlist of more than 20 students, that suggests the population has risen in that area, and state officials should consider giving the district more funding to create enough slots for those students, the report suggested. The waitlisted students represent less than 1% of students who are eligible for the program but not enrolled. More than 18,000 4-year-olds, or about 55% of all eligible, are living in poverty but not enrolled in a 4K program, according to the report. That's a decrease from the 2022-2024 school year, when 60% of eligible students were not enrolled in districts. Still, it's not enough, May said. Even if every student on a waitlist enrolled in one of the available spots, programs would have space left over to take on at least 1,900 more students, according to the report. That suggests there are barriers other than program space keeping parents from enrolling their students in state-funded preschool, May said. In many cases, the problem might be that parents don't know about 4K programs or their benefits, May said. The state should put more funding and effort into outreach to help those students, the report suggests. Data shows preschool programs are highly beneficial, helping students learn skills in reading, math and socialization, studies have found. According to the report, at-risk students who attended a state-funded pre-K program were more likely to be prepared for school than their counterparts who didn't, according to the report. 'So, we want those students who are eligible and not served to be able to access it, and we definitely want those students who are on a waitlist to be able to access the program,' said Dana Yow, executive director of the committee.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
$1.5 million in taxpayer funds mistakenly allocated in SC school voucher program
A recent report from South Carolina's Education Oversight Committee revealed that approximately $1.5 million in taxpayer funds was mistakenly allocated to families of students who were ineligible for state-funded tuition assistance, according to the Herald. Nearly 1,000 of the 2,880 students initially approved for $6,000 scholarships were removed from the program in October after the first payments were made before the school year began. The scholarships were intended to be distributed in four $1,500 installments throughout the year. State Representative Neal Collins expressed concerns about the lack of oversight and accountability in the program, stating, 'We have no accountability, we have no oversight towards what happens after purchases are made... It's just very concerning when we're talking about public money and how it's being used.' The confusion over eligibility was partly due to a South Carolina Supreme Court decision that deemed part of the program unconstitutional, specifically the use of funds for private school tuition. This decision came after the school year had started, leading to uncertainty among parents about their children's eligibility. ALSO READ: SC education leaders discuss 'age appropriate' material Additionally, some parents misunderstood the eligibility requirements, with some believing the funds could be used for college or not realizing that homeschooled children were ineligible. The Education Oversight Committee's report suggests that the education department accepted applicants without verifying their eligibility, recommending that eligibility be confirmed before distributing funds in future application processes. The funds were distributed through an online portal called ClassWallet, and some parents reported that funds were removed from their accounts without explanation after initially being awarded. The oversight committee's recommendations aim to prevent future misallocation of funds and ensure that only eligible families benefit from the scholarship program. Both the South Carolina House and Senate are considering legislative changes to address these issues and potentially revive the use of public funds for private school vouchers. VIDEO: SC education leaders discuss 'age appropriate' material
