As you are aware from our Memo on July 31, 2024, multiple federal District Courts have issued orders granting various states preliminary injunctions against the enforcement of the United States Department of Education’s (USED) new Title IX regulation. While the District Court for the Northern District of Alabama denied South Carolina’s request for preliminary injunctive
relief, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals subsequently enjoined the initial implementation of the
regulation until the matter could be further briefed, argued, and reviewed.

Per the requirements of Proviso 1.111 (SDE: School Nurses Unencumbered Time) and Proviso 1.114 (SDE: 4K Teachers) of Act 226, the FY 2024-25 State Appropriations Act, school districts are encouraged, where practical, to include school nurses and 4K teachers in the unencumbered time requirements under Section 59-5-63.

The Office of Assessment and Standards (OAS) is implementing updates to the SC READY English Language Arts (ELA) assessment format for the 2024–25 school year. These changes are designed to align with the fully operational 2024 South Carolina College- and Career-Ready ELA Standards and to ensure that our assessments continue to reflect the rigorous expectations outlined in the Education Accountability Act (EAA).

The Office of Assessment and Standards Science Team is excited to announce the release of a new resource to support teachers of science in their instructional planning, the Instructional Planning Templates for Science. To promote the implementation of this resource, the Science Team will be hosting a webinar for teachers of science, science teacher leaders, and administrators responsible for science instruction in their buildings and/or districts.

Please see the link below for the 2024-2025 United States Youth Senate Program (USSYP) nomination form. Each high school may nominate one outstanding qualified student who is interested in pursuing a career in public service. Nomination submissions from school leaders will be accepted from now until September 17th.

The Read to Succeed Team in the Office of Early Learning and Literacy (OELL) is dedicated to providing support and professional learning opportunities to aid our elementary schools in better serving all students.

The Education Accountability Act (EAA) mandates computer-based testing for SC READY
except for students with disabilities as specified in their Individualized Education Program, 504,
or Individualized Language Acquisition Plan. The Technology Technical Assistance Proviso
(Proviso 1.58) in the General Appropriations Bill for FY 2024–25 allows districts and public
charter schools to request a waiver from the State Board of Education (SBE) to administer the
tests on paper.

Per the requirements of proviso 1.75 of the FY 2024-25 General Appropriations Act, H. 5100,
the Department, after seeking clarification from the State Fiscal Accountability authority, is
providing a list of cooperative purchasing agreements.

The Office of Early Learning and Literacy (OELL) supports South Carolina’s districts and schools by providing SCDE Reading Coaches with two years of professional learning. To receive the SCDE Literacy Coach Endorsement, coaches must complete two courses: Principles of Coaching and Action Research.

Principals play an essential role in attracting, selecting, developing, and retaining top talent. Ensuring that all students have access to excellent teaching requires innovative approaches and the deepening of our most impactful talent strategies. To support principals in this critical work, the South Carolina Department of Education is partnering with the Urban Schools Human Capital Academy (USHCA). Together, we are launching the SC Human Capital Principal Network, a year-long cohort program designed to provide targeted support. Beginning in August 2024, principals will participate in 90-minute virtual sessions to enhance their leadership and talent management skills.

The South Carolina Department of Education is launching a pilot utilizing DRC BEACON in grades 3–8 for the 2024–25 school year. DRC BEACON is a computer-adaptive interim assessment that helps educators identify student learning needs, measure progress, and achieve growth. It checks for student learning with real-time online reports at multiple points during the school year, providing immediate insights that will help guide formative instructional practices and learning in South Carolina classrooms. Participation in the pilot is of no cost to districts and schools.

The Office of Early Learning and Literacy (OELL) is dedicated to providing support and professional learning opportunities to aid our elementary schools in better serving all students. Child Early Reading Development and Education Program (CERDEP) legislation requires all personnel providing instruction and classroom support to participate annually in professional learning focused on emergent literacy.

This memo provides an overview of required documentation for districts utilizing their 2024–25 reading/literacy coach allocation(s).

The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) has created a document containing state and federal requirements for school district websites and other public awareness resources for the 2024 school year.

The chart below outlines district and public release dates for statewide assessments administered in the 2023–24 school year. Please note that AP, SAT, and ACT report release dates are set by the testing vendors.

This memo clarifies important licensing requirements from the South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) for programs operated by public schools that serve children four years of age and under.

Per Proviso 1.97 of H. 5100, the 2024-2025 General Appropriations Act, any school district or school that receives funds contained in H. 5100 must accept cash as a payment option for admission to extracurricular activities.

This memo outlines the essential requirements for reporting interim formative assessments for students in first through eighth grade. Compliance with these requirements is essential for districts to avoid funding penalties and to contribute to a comprehensive performance report for the General Assembly per Proviso 1.74.

Districts meeting SCDE criteria for eLearning may use up to five eLearning days to make up for short-term disruptions to in-person instruction (e.g., power outages, water main breaks). An eLearning day is used on the specific day schools would otherwise have had to close due to unforeseen emergencies or when a make-up day is normally used. These days provide flexibility to avoid loss of instruction due to school closings or manage necessary make-up days already included in the school calendar.