S.C. lawmakers work to make things better for educators
- Grant For SC
- Feb 5
- 2 min read
By Mary Green
Published: Feb. 5, 2025 at 5:56 PM EST
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - Every year, thousands of public school teachers across South Carolina sign their contracts – without knowing how much they’ll be paid, what subjects they’ll teach or where they’ll work.
That’s on top of burdensome paperwork they’re required to complete – and other mandated working conditions they say need to change if they’re going to keep teaching.
For the first time in several years – South Carolina’s growing teacher shortage may be slowing down.
President Donald Trump says he may dissolve the Education Department, raising concerns among some parents and teachers in Georgia and South Carolina.
Many teachers say improved working conditions would help keep them in the classroom – and a bill that would address many of their concerns is now advancing at the State House.
“The policies in this bill can greatly enhance educator recruitment and especially retention in South Carolina,” said Patrick Kelly of the Palmetto State Teachers Association.
The bill would reduce the amount of paperwork and administrative burdens teachers are required to complete – including by creating automatic recertification for active teachers.
The South Carolina Board of Education is meeting Tuesday afternoon to review several books some community members want to see removed from public schools.
“It’s about time we let teachers have some of these very simple things that don’t mean a whole lot to people unless it’s you,” said Rep. Shannon Erickson, R-Beaufort, Education and Public Works Committee chair.
It would also reform the contract process.
Right now, teachers are required to sign their contracts in mid-May for the next school year – without any details.
“We ask teachers to sign a contract that basically is blank,” Erickson said. “I don’t know another profession around that anybody would take that job, yet teachers are so dedicated that they will trust and they will sign those contracts and they will do the work, and they’ll be there.”
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