Latest news with #SouthCarolinaDepartmentofEducation
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
SC Board of Education at odds during latest book ban discussion
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSAV) — The South Carolina Department of Education (SCBOE) will not take another 10 books off school library shelves, at least for now. The state board postponed a vote Tuesday on 10 books that were considered for a statewide ban. Earlier this month a review committee unanimously recommended the titles be banned statewide. The books the recommended for bans are: 'Collateral' by Ellen Hopkins 'Empire of Storms' by Sarah J. Maas 'Half of a Yellow Sun' by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 'Hopeless' by Colleen Hoover 'Identical' by Ellen Hopkins 'Kingdom of Ash' by Sarah J. Mass 'Last Night at the Telegraph Club' by Malinda Lo 'Living Dead Girl' by Elizabeth Scott 'Lucky' by Alice Sebold 'Tricks' by Ellen Hopkins A final vote on the recommendations was scheduled for Tuesday but some board members expressed concerns about the wording of Regulation 43-170. That regulation was promoted by S.C. Department of Education staff that defines any book containing a 'description' of sexual conduct as age-inappropriate for grade K-12. 'I am concerned about potential abuses of a process that we intended to be fair and equitable,' said board member Maya Slaughter. According to the regulation, board members do not have to read the whole book but can make a decision based on passages only. 'Looking at these texts outside of the arc of their full stories is a mistake in my view,' said Board member Antony Vincent. It only takes one person to make a challenge to a book. So far, the majority of the 27 challenges are coming from one Beaufort County woman, Elizabeth Szalai. Szalai also spearheaded the previous review of 97 books by panels connected to Beaufort County Schools. 'I don't think somebody from Beaufort should make me drive here from Myrtle Beach every meeting to talk about more books,' said board member Ken Richardson. 'My question is, when does this thing stop?' After the debate concluded, board member Jackie Lynn eventually made the motion to table a vote on the 10 books. 'It is reassuring that the State Board of Education is prioritizing the rights of families, students, and educators rather than the handful of South Carolinians who feel scarily comfortable taking the rights of others. I hope that the board will take the time to craft a democratic policy that considers the full context of a written work,' said Josh Malkin, Advocacy Director for the ACLU of South Carolina. So far, 12 books have been removed from South Carolina school libraries since the regulations went into effect last year. According to the regulation, if the Board of Education rules in favor of a challenge, the books will be pulled from all school libraries statewide. Most schoolbook bans are limited to the school district in which they are imposed. South Carolina is one of three states, in addition to Utah and Tennessee, with a mechanism for statewide schoolbook bans established by state law. Utah has mandated 17 books banned for all schools in the state. So far, Tennessee has not had any state-mandated book bans. If all 10 of these titles are banned, as the committee recommends, South Carolina would surpass Utah with the most state-mandated bans impacting all public schools. There is no word on if the board will ask to change the regulation, or if these books will be up for debate again. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Three area schools awarded grant money for SC Teachers committing to measurable student growth
SOUTH CAROLINA (WJBF) – Three area schools are among 37 South Carolina schools across 29 districts to be awarded $5 million in grant money. The South Carolina Department of Education announced that the 37 schools will be participating in the Strategic Compensation Pilot Grants for their commitment to accelerating student growth in English Language Arts and math. According to SCDE, the three schools from the CSRA that are among the 37 are Allendale-Fairfax High School, Saluda Middle School, and Batesburg-Leesville Middle School. SCDE states that the 37 newly-awarded schools span urban, rural, and charter schools, and the average school award exceeds $120,000, with final allocations determined by student enrollment and classroom academic growth outcomes. SCDE adds that there were 118 schools applying for more than $22 million in funding, and the demand for innovative strategic teacher compensation in South Carolina is undeniable so these 37 schools will serve as a model for rewarding excellence and ensuring that high-performing educators stay in the classroom. For a full list of awarded schools, visit the . Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
S.C. Dept. of Education to award $5 million to measure student growth
SOUTH CAROLINA (WJBF) – The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) announced the new schools that will be participating in the Strategic Compensation Pilot Grants on Tuesday. In a press release on March 18, the SCDE said $5 million will be awarded to 37 school across 29 districts 'for their commitment to accelerating student growth in English Language Arts (ELA) and math.' Teachers at the participating schools can earn a one-time performance-based bonuses based on student academic growth data. Allendale-Fairfax High School and Saluda Middle School were among the schools included in the grant. ALSO ON WJBF: Georgia Power Foundation donates $250,000 to Augusta Tech Automotive Institute 'This initiative is about more than just pay—it's about rewarding the educators who are moving the needle on student growth in the foundational skills of reading and math,' said State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver. 'When we recognize and support the very best teaching, we set a new horizon for what's possible for students in every corner of our state.' According to the department, 118 schools applied for more than $22 million in funding. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pee Dee schools awarded part of $5M grant aimed at boosting student growth
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — Several Pee Dee area schools will be awarded part of a $5 million grant for their commitment to accelerating student growth in English language arts and math, a South Carolina Department of Education news release said. 37 schools across 29 districts in the state are receiving a portion of the Strategic Compensation Pilot Grant for the first time. Seven of the schools come from the Pee Dee area, including: Darlington High School in Darlington County Hartsville Middle School in Darlington County Hannah-Pamplico Elementary School in Florence County School District Two Hannah-Pamplico Middle School in Florence County School District Two Johnsonville Elementary School in Florence County School District Five Johnsonville Middle School in Florence County School District Five Johnakin Middle School in Marion County School District (Marion 10) The purpose of the Strategic Compensation Pilot Grant is to reward educators for student success, the release explained. These grants acknowledge the real impact teachers make, shifting the focus from years served to measurable academic growth. 118 schools applied for more than $22 million in funding, showing that 'the demand for innovative strategic teacher compensation in South Carolina is undeniable,' the release said. While only 37 schools are receiving the award this year, the release said that these schools serve as a model for rewarding excellence and ensuring that high-performing educators stay in the classroom. 'Great teachers change lives,' Ellen Weaver, state superintendent of education said. 'Every day, South Carolina educators are proving that when we invest in teaching excellence, students thrive.' 'This initiative is about more than just pay,' she furthered. 'It's about rewarding the educators who are moving the needle on student growth in the foundational skills of reading and math. When we recognize and support the very best teaching, we set a new horizon for what's possible for students in every corner of our state.' Teachers at participating schools can earn a one-time performance-based bonus based on student academic growth data, with three different approaches to determining awards. According to the news release, these include: State Collaboration Model – Based on SC Ready growth data for grades 4-8. Excellence in Teaching Model – Tied to fall-to-spring interim assessment growth for grades Kindergarten through 8th grade. District-Designed Model – Custom compensation plans using quantitative student growth data. The average school award exceeds $120,000, with final allocations determined by student enrollment and classroom academic growth outcomes, the release said. * * * Jordan White is a Digital Producer at News13. She joined the News13 team in August 2024. Jordan, a Myrtle Beach native, graduated from St. James High School in Murrells Inlet and is a graduate of Coker University. Follow Jordan on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of her work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Committee votes to remove 10 more books from South Carolina public schools
SOUTH CAROLINA (WSAV) — A committee with the South Carolina Department of Education has voted to remove 10 more books from all public school libraries in the state. This includes 2 books by Sarah J. Maas from the popular throne of glass series and several books by Ellen Hopkins, including 'Tricks'. The removal is based on a rule against books containing a description of sexual conduct. The state Board of Education will take a final vote at its April 1 meeting. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
