The Curriculum-Based Professional Learning (CBPL) team within the Office of Assessment
and Standards (OAS) is excited to announce that applications are now open for the 2026–
2027 Curriculum Cohort Fellowships (CCF). These yearlong fellowships are designed to
build a sustainable, statewide network of instructional leaders committed to strengthening
the implementation of High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) in ELA and Mathematics
(Grades 3–8).

The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) is preparing for Summer Reading
Camp (SRC) and is sharing important information regarding assessment options,
requirements, and assurances for third grade students eligible for retention under Read to
Succeed (R2S).

On March 31, 2026, Governor Henry McMaster proclaimed April as the Month of the Military Child or “Purple Up! For Military Kids” in South Carolina to celebrate students whose service member parents serve and protect our country.

Pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. § 9-1-1795, beginning in School Year (SY) 2018–19 and annually thereafter, the State Board of Education (SBE) designates areas of critical academic need and critical geographic need for the employment of retired certified teachers who will be exempt from the earnings limitations imposed by S.C. Code Ann. § 9-1-1790.

A workgroup consisting of internal and external stakeholders met over the last few months to re-evaluate and develop guidance for the high school Academic Seminar courses for students with disabilities. The workgroup developed clarification on the Academic Seminar courses that incorporates high school English Language Arts (ELA) and math standards and describes functional performance competencies to be used for the courses.

This memorandum provides a supportive reminder of district and educator responsibilities under Act 114 of 2024, which establishes statewide expectations for high‑quality, evidence‑based literacy instruction.

The South Carolina Department of Education is pleased to honor high school seniors who have committed to enter the military or attend a military service academy. Eligible students are invited to participate in a statewide recognition ceremony where state leaders will publicly acknowledge their commitment to serve our country.

The 135-day membership collection opens March 30, 2026 and closes April 21, 2026. The Student Data Membership Counts and Student Data Accountability Counts webpages will serve as the official sources for determining district funding. The links update daily at 12:30 p.m. based on PowerSchool data published to Ed-Fi by 8:00 p.m. the prior day.

Pursuant to the provisions under Section 59-65-40 of the SC Code of Laws, any pupil who
was approved and received Home Instruction between the 1st and 135th day of school must
be included in this report. Report only those students that are supervised by your district.
Students whose instruction is conducted under the sponsorship of the South Carolina
Association of Independent Home Schools are not eligible for funding.

The Students Health and Fitness Act (SHFA) (S.C. Code § 59-10-10, et seq.) requires each South Carolina school serving grades K–5 to report the number of minutes of weekly physical education instruction and the number of weekly minutes of physical activity. Reports must be listed by school, by individual class, and by grade level.

On February 1, 2026, the South Carolina Legislature approved the regulation for Educational Interpreters for Students Who Are Deaf (Regulation 43.243.2). This regulation goes into effect at the start of the 2026-2027 school year. We have been closely monitoring this regulation and provided updates to district special education directors throughout the legislative sessions.

As school districts initiate the teacher contracting process for the 2026-27 School Year, we wish to remind you of the pertinent South Carolina laws regulating this process. This memorandum specifically addresses the critical deadlines for notifications regarding teacher employment.

The South Carolina Department of Education is excited to hold the inaugural Palmetto Education Summit, June 15–17, 2026, at the Charleston Area Convention Center. 

The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) announces that the 2026–27 Request
for Proposals for the Charter Schools Program Planning and Implementation subgrant is
now available online. Approximately $3 million in funding will be distributed on a
competitive basis and the deadline to apply is May 8, 2026.

The Subgroup Support Team with the Office of Leadership Effectiveness is excited to
announce the upcoming Subgroup Support Sessions for March. Schools with the
designation of Additional Targeted Support and Improvement are strongly encouraged to attend.

The Office of Leadership Effectiveness is pleased to announce dates for emerging leader cohorts beginning in the summer 2026. Our mission is to increase access to highly effective teaching and leadership for every student in South Carolina.

State law requires every South Carolina school district to meet minimum cybersecurity standards to protect student data, instructional continuity, and district operations. Compliance is not optional—and failure to implement required controls places districts at operational, financial, and legal risk.

The National Youth Science Camp (NYSC) is now accepting applications from interested high school juniors or seniors for the 2026 in-person camp in the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia. The NYSC is designed to honor and challenge future leaders through engagement with STEAM professionals and exciting outdoor activities.

The Supreme Court held that public schools violate parents’ constitutional rights when they require elementary students to participate in instruction on gender or sexuality that conflicts with parents’ sincerely held religious beliefs without advance notice and an opportunity to opt-out.

The Office of Assessment and Standards is pleased to announce an upcoming webinar on AP Computer Science Principles. This course introduces students to the impact of computer and technology on everyday life—from the apps we use to the ways personal data is collected—and examines the benefits and challenges of emerging technologies.