The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) announces that the 2025–26 Request for
Proposals for the Charter Schools Program Planning and Implementation subgrant is now
available online. Approximately $7 million in funding will be distributed on a competitive basis and the deadline to apply is March 15, 2025.

The Office of Career and Technical Education is pleased to announce that Learning Blade—an SCDE sponsored resource—is now available in the SC Instruction Hub (iHub). Learning
Blade is a STEM and Career and Technical Education (CTE) platform designed for 5th–9th
grades.

Students in foster care face significant educational challenges, including lower academic achievement, higher rates of grade retention, and increased disciplinary actions. Research shows they are three to four times more likely to experience exclusionary discipline and twice as likely to be chronically absent compared to peers. They are also nearly three times more likely to require special education services.

We recognize the desire to support students and teams during these important championship events. In response to district inquiries, we are providing clarification on state laws and policies
related to school calendars and instructional time. This guidance, developed in consultation with
education leaders in the legislative and executive branches, aims to help districts balance the celebration of student success with legislative requirements.

The South Carolina Department of Education is pleased to announce the Personalized Learning Team will be hosting its first Personalized Learning Summit on March 28, 2025, from 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. at the Richland Two Institute of Innovation (R2i2) in Columbia, SC. This event seeks to bring together educators from across the state to learn, celebrate, and be inspired by the transformative work happening in South Carolina around student-centered instruction.

The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) announces that the 2024–25 Request for Proposals Strategic Compensation Pilot Grant is now available online. Approximately $5,000,000 in funding will be distributed on a competitive basis. The deadline to apply is January 9, 2025. Applications must be submitted online and will not be accepted after this deadline.

With the launch of EDPlan SC, South Carolina’s new statewide IEP system, we are excited to support educators and students with a more efficient and accurate way to manage student information. EDPlan SC represents a significant advancement in how we serve our school communities, and we are committed to ensuring that you and your teachers have the resources and guidance needed to make this transition as smooth as possible.

The Department of Education is pleased to announce the availability of the Follett Destiny District Classroom Library Manager (DCLM), an extension of the widely used Destiny Library Manager. This tool is designed to assist educators in managing classroom libraries more efficiently, promoting transparency, and ensuring access to appropriate reading materials for all students.

The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE), in partnership with the Maxwell Leadership Foundation, is pleased to offer a virtual information session Wednesday, January 8th, 2025, from 10:00 – 11:00 am on the iLead Leadership Program. During this time, administrators and guidance counselors can learn more about iLead and its curriculum to develop values-based leadership behaviors and practices through authentic, student-led conversations.