Stories

In order to improve the user experience on ExpectMoreSC, the EOC will be conducting a brief, virtual focus group to gain stakeholder feedback. If...

The recently released SC READY data from students in grades 3-8 show that English Language Arts (ELA) scores have rebounded to pre-pandemic (2019)...

Dr. Matthew Lavery, EOC's Director of Research, has published a series of short videos explaining the new 2023 Accountability Manual, which impacts...

C. Matthew Ferguson, Esq., EOC Executive Director The global COVID-19 pandemic forced South Carolina public schools to abruptly close for the last...

“The Profile of the SC Graduate demands that we provide world-class knowledge, world-class skills, and a global perspective to our students. We cannot, however, prepare our students for the world if they do not learn about that world.” Dr. Jerry Mitchell

In November 2018, the Charleston Post and Courier posted an investigative series spotlighting the disparities among South Carolina’s schools and persistent failures to improve students’ readiness for college and the workforce.

Why it matters: The U.S. News rankings include data on more than 20,500 public schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia…

Why it matters: Companies like Volvo and Mercedes have located to SC, but finding a qualified workforce has been tough-going. In the three-county Charleston metro area, the labor force actually shrank by more than 3,000 people over the past year — to 378,544 — despite more than 10,000 people moving to the area.

Why it matters: This study suggests that employers see skills gaps in key areas where college students don’t believe gaps exist, particularly in areas like professionalism and work ethic.

Why it matters: U.S. News and World Report: Best States for Education ranks states in higher education as well as primary and secondary school and pre-K education.

Why it matters: Education Week’s annual state-by-state assessment of public education paints a portrait of middling performance overall with patches of high achievement, along with perennial struggles to improve on the part of states mired at the bottom.

Why it matters: Education Week publishes Quality Counts annually, grading states on annual performance. This is the 22nd edition of the publication and South Carolina has earned a ranking of 42.

Why it matters: This opinion editorial, published by The State, is part of a series of opinion pieces authored by Dr. Frank Morgan, retired Superintendent of the School District of Kershaw County.

Why it matters: Rep. Dwight Loftis, a current EOC members, states we pay $9.5 billion every year for our SC schools. So, what is wrong with accountability?

Why it is important: Columnist Cindi Ross Scoppe’s editorial discusses the need for teachers to get the pay and respect they deserve. Her editorial was published along with a series the paper did about SC teachers leaving the classroom. Link to “Classrooms in Crisis” series in the editorial.

Why it is important: “After embracing innovative, student-centered policies, adopting comprehensive reforms and setting higher expectations for children, we have seen consistent improvement in NAEP scores for multiple years. The results of the Nation’s Report Card indicate these reforms are yielding positive results.” – Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant

Why it is important: Jeb Bush responds to those who ask what Florida is doing to show growth. His answer: “There’s no great secret. The key ingredients are persistence and an unwavering commitment to putting the needs and interests of students ahead of anything or anyone else.”

Why it matters: South Carolina residents have wisecracked “Thank God for Mississippi” for many years. That is no longer true. The investment in quality pre-K and early literacy has paid off for states like Mississippi and Florida, who are seeing improvements.

Why it is important: For historically underachieving groups like African-American students and disabled students, results on the “Nation’s Report Card” are lower now than they were in 2009 for every tested subject and grade.