On Friday, February 5, 2026, the United States Department of Education issued updated guidance on Constitutionally Protected Prayer and Religious Expression. This memorandum serves as a summary of the updated guidance, and a reminder regarding mandatory compliance with the directive.

The Social Studies Team is excited to announce these upcoming webinar sessions for the spring. Please see our professional learning opportunities webpage for more details as the year unfolds.

The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) announces that the 2026–27 Request for Proposals for the Arts Curricular Innovation Grants (ACIG)— Arts Enhancement Program (AEP) grant is now available online. Approximately $350,000 in funding will be distributed on a competitive basis and the deadline to apply is April 24, 2026.

The Office of Assessment and Standards (OAS) Math and Science Team is excited to offer a webinar designed specifically for secondary math and science educators.

The South Carolina Department of Education’s Office of Instructional Materials is pleased to announce an important system upgrade that will impact all districts and schools statewide. Beginning Summer 2026, the Office of Instructional Materials will transition from Follett Destiny Textbook Inventory Management System to Ingram Education Services (IES) as our new instructional materials textbook management system. This transition applies only to the textbook management system and does not affect the library management program.

The Read to Succeed Team within the Office of Instructional Supports (OIS) is dedicated to assisting districts in delivering high‑quality Summer Reading Camps (SRC) for 2026. This memorandum outlines essential reporting requirements, PowerSchool updates, and targeted guidance to promote effective program implementation.

The Curriculum-Based Professional Learning (CBPL) Team exists to strengthen teaching and learning across South Carolina by supporting the use of High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) in English Language Arts and Mathematics through sustainable, curriculum-centered professional learning.

The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) has reviewed current practices
regarding academic weighting for Project Lead the Way (PLTW) courses and is issuing this
clarification to ensure compliance with state regulations and consistency across districts.

This memorandum provides information on the expansion of the South Carolina Child Early Reading Development and Education Program (CERDEP), as detailed in the Read to Succeed Act (Section 59-156-120) and Proviso 1.47.

The Student and Teacher Climate Surveys are a rated metric in the school accountability system. These surveys will be issued and collected through the PowerSchool Ecollect system just as they have in prior years.