The SCEA speaks up for the rights of students educators. Browse recent testimony and communication to elected officials
Speak Up for Students Our Voice Is Our Power
We’ll advocate for fully-funded public schools. We’ll dismantle unjust systems. We’ll give our students the opportunities they need to succeed. Help us make it happen.
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Looking for more ways to take action?
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VOTE YES on unencumbered time for educators (S.946)
Submitted on 01/12/2022
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VOTE NO on Senate private school voucher scheme (S.935)
Submitted on 01/18/2022
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VOTE NO on anti-truth censorship legislation (H.4325, H.4343, H.4392, H.4605, & H.4799)
Submitted on 02/16/2022
2023 Legislative Agenda
At the 2022 Representative Assembly, The SCEA members adopted the following agenda for the 2023 Legislative Session.
The South Carolina Education Association (The SCEA) believes that a free, high quality public education is a right of every child. Public education serves as the backbone of our state in ensuring the health of our democracy, development of our economy, and strength of our communities. To ensure that all children in South Carolina receive the highest quality education, the SCEA recommends that the General Assembly abide by Article XI of the SC Constitution and pursue the following actions:
Ensure Equitable & Effective Education Funding
- Fully fund Public Schools
- Fund the Outcome
- Prioritize the Classroom
Respect Educators as Professionals
- Provide Competitive Compensation
- Increase Unencumbered Time
- Reduce Burdensome Paperwork
- Produce a Fair and Equitable Contract
- Incentivize Careers in Hard-to-Staff Regions
- Improve Teacher Recruitment & Retention Programs
- Trust Educators as Education Experts
- Provide comprehensive benefits
Provide an Education of Excellence
- Increase Learning Time
- Invest in Student and Educator Wellness
- Invest in School Safety
- Invest in Early Childhood Literacy
- Support Post-Secondary Pathways
Advocacy Victories
Together we're stronger. Together we're heard.
We can accomplish so much when we work together and speak up for our students, public schools, and communities. Take a look at what we can do together.
The 21st Century
2022
Duty-free lunch back on the menu
Unanimous passage of a 30 minute duty-free break for elementary & special education educators through S.946—the first state-guaranteed unencumbered time of any kind passed in decades!
2022
Minimum educator salary, bus driver pay, and supply checks increased
The higher of two raise proposals adopted in budget proviso 1.3, increasing the minimum teacher starting salary $40,000. Increased Bus Driver salary by 3% in 2022 budget proviso 117.149. Increase of the Teacher Supply checks to $300 in budget proviso 1A.9. However, as not all educators and school staff were guaranteed a raise, the fight for the pay members deserve continues!
2022
Voucher schemes stopped in their tracks
Defeat of Private School Vouchers. Fought voucher schemes like S.935 and H.4879 all session long and won final defeat at the last hour through bipartisan agreement.
2022
Defeat of anti-truth censorship bills
Defeat of anti-truth censorship bills H.5183, H.4325, H.4343, H.4392, H.4799, and H.4605 and anti-truth censorship amendments to S.945. Members of The SCEA and ProTruthSC coalition partners across the state united to fight for truth and honesty in education. After many battles, we ensured this legislation didn’t pass into law in any form.
