South Carolina awards $5M to schools for strategic teacher compensation

The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) has announced the allocation of $5 million to 37 schools across 29 districts as part of the Strategic Compensation Pilot Grants. This initiative aims to accelerate student growth in English Language Arts (ELA) and math.

A total of 118 schools applied for over $22 million in funding, highlighting a significant demand for innovative teacher compensation strategies within the state. While not all applicants could be funded this year, these selected schools will act as exemplars in rewarding teaching excellence and retaining high-performing educators.

State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver emphasized the impact of great teachers, stating, "Great teachers change lives. Every day, South Carolina educators are proving that when we invest in teaching excellence, students thrive." She added that the initiative focuses on more than just pay by rewarding educators who contribute significantly to student growth in foundational skills like reading and math.

The grants aim to address traditional compensation structures by rewarding educators based on measurable academic growth rather than tenure. Building on the success of the Excellence in Teaching Awards launched by Ben and Kelly Navarro in 2021, this program seeks to reshape teacher pay by recognizing top performers.

Participating teachers can earn one-time performance-based bonuses through three different models:

- The State Collaboration Model uses SC Ready growth data for grades 4-8.

- The Excellence in Teaching Model ties bonuses to fall-to-spring interim assessment growth for grades K-8.

- The District-Designed Model allows custom compensation plans using quantitative student growth data.

The awarded schools include urban, rural, and charter institutions with average awards exceeding $120,000. Final allocations depend on student enrollment and classroom academic outcomes. SCDE will collaborate with districts to ensure effective implementation so that funds directly benefit educators driving positive results.

This initiative marks a step towards reshaping teacher compensation in South Carolina while strengthening the state's teacher pipeline and enhancing student achievement. For more information on awarded schools, visit the SCDE website.