At a  Lexington Chamber and Visitors Center Business Over Lunch event on Jan. 30, state Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver shared insights on vacancies, goals and key statistics regarding the state of education. 

A Greenville native, Weaver is the 19th state superintendent of education. The position oversees the S.C. Department of Education.

Since taking office, Weaver said her focus has been on creating high-quality opportunities for students and supporting their success.

As part of the department’s strategic plan, Weaver said the goal is to ensure every child in the state is prepared for college, careers or military service, and that by 2030, at least 75% of students are at or above grade level.

She outlined four objectives to reach that goal:

1. Accelerate student outcomes in literacy and math, while leading the nation in high-quality civics instruction

2. Equip students with essential life skills and prepare them for career-aligned pathways

3. Elevate the quality and long-term effectiveness of school, district and board leadership

4. Engage and empower families and community partners to advance student success

Currently, South Carolina has more than 1,200 public and charter schools across 81 districts, serving nearly 800,000 students. There are approximately 59,000 to 60,000 educators statewide.

Weaver said charter schools have seen significant growth over the past decade. The average revenue per pupil is $19,871, which she said is within the national average range.

The state’s education system includes traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools and more. The Education Scholarship Trust Fund program also allows select families to apply for scholarships.

Weaver said teachers are often the No. 1 predictor of student outcomes within schools, noting that over the past nine years, the General Assembly has increased investments in public education.

Since 2019, starting pay for state educators has increased by 52%, making South Carolina regionally competitive with districts in neighboring states such as North Carolina and Georgia.

Teacher vacancies throughout the state are down 56% since 2023, while the number of new teaching positions continues to grow.

“We haven’t solved all the problems yet,” Weaver said. “There’s still a lot of more work to do. We still really need math teachers, science teachers, special education teachers and middle school teachers. But we are making progress, and I’m excited about our plan that we have at the department to really continue to comprehensively support our educators in the classroom.”

Weaver also emphasized the importance of principals, noting they play a key role in attracting and retaining teachers.

Statewide data from last year showed 60% of students in third through eighth grades were proficient in English Language Arts on the S.C. Ready exam.

Weaver said the state has seen a 6% year-over-year increase in proficiency. She added that funding approved by the General Assembly has supported teacher training in reading instruction.

In math, 44% of students demonstrated proficiency statewide. Weaver said progress is being made through initiatives such as the Palmetto Math Project, which aims to provide high-quality instructional materials, professional learning and coaching for educators. She said when she first took office, the department had one full-time math specialist for the state. Now, the department has a team of instructors who aim to coach teachers and support school leaders.

Another statewide initiative is the Free to Focus policy, which created phone-free school environments aimed at improving student focus and engagement. Since its implementation, Weaver said the department has received positive feedback from educators reporting improved attention and engagement among students.

While students miss having access to their phones during the school day, she said many have shared they feel more engaged in school.

“We ask our teachers to be everything to everybody, and they can’t be,” she said. “A teacher can’t replace a family, a larger community or a faith community. We need everyone in our community engaged in our schools.”

She encouraged attendees to volunteer in schools and serve as mentors. Weaver highlighted Project Raise Your Hand, which connects parents, community members and leaders with opportunities to mentor, tutor and support students. She added that volunteering at school events and participating in Parent-Teacher Associations are also meaningful ways to get involved.