Division for Legal Affairs

The Division for Legal Affairs encompasses five offices: General Counsel, Government Affairs, the Grants Program, Emergency Programs, and Procurement. Each office’s mission is to support the profile of the South Carolina graduate through its unique contributions of legal advice, legislative actions, grant-related specialized technical assistance, and efficient and cost effective acquisition of goods and services.

Office of Emergency Programs: The Office of Emergency Programs offers support, guidance, and resources for SC public and private schools who implement programs provided through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds and the Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools (EANS) funds. These funds have been appropriated through the Authorization of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Coronavirus Response & Relief Supplemental Appropriations(CRRSA) Act, and the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act.

Governmental Affairs: Reports and data requested by the S.C. General Assembly, from the Office of Governmental Affairs.

Office of General Counsel: The attorneys in the Office of General Counsel provide legal advice to the State Superintendent of Education, the State Board of Education, and the staff of the State Department of Education.

Grants: The mission of the Grants Program is to provide specialized technical assistance and resources to help the SCDE and school districts address their grant-related needs as we support the profile of the South Carolina Graduate.

Procurement: The mission of the Office of Procurement is to support the educational goals of the State Department of Education by providing an efficient and cost effective acquisition of quality goods, services, and management of internal services.