Issues & Action
The SCEA is the voice of public education at the State House.
Voting trends in SC show that voters often leave political decisions to elected leaders. The SCEA encourages public school employees to be involved in the political decisions that impact public educators. The collective voices of educators are a powerful force that can improve education.
Annually, members of The SCEA meet in Columbia and make decisions that set our legislative priorities for the upcoming legislative session that begins in January. In addition to our legislative priorities, The SCEA monitors new bills that are introduced and works to either support or oppose them. While teachers are busy teaching, The SCEA is at the Statehouse, watching out for our members.
The SCEA has been engaged in proposals for the teacher salary schedule and discussion with the Senate K-12 Education Equity Committee. Click the button below to read our recommendations.
Voting trends in SC show that voters often leave political decisions to elected leaders. The SCEA encourages public school employees to be involved in the political decisions that impact public educators. The collective voices of educators are a powerful force that can improve education.
Annually, members of The SCEA meet in Columbia and make decisions that set our legislative priorities for the upcoming legislative session that begins in January. In addition to our legislative priorities, The SCEA monitors new bills that are introduced and works to either support or oppose them. While teachers are busy teaching, The SCEA is at the Statehouse, watching out for our members.
The SCEA has been engaged in proposals for the teacher salary schedule and discussion with the Senate K-12 Education Equity Committee. Click the button below to read our recommendations.
Members Matter
Educators are the VOICE in their community and school district. Do you need change in your district? Your school? Do you need better working conditions?
You're powerful — because you live and vote in your legislator's district. And it's the job of your lawmakers to represent you. But they can't effectively represent your interests unless you communicate with them around the issues you care about. Your elected representatives pay close attention to grassroots points of view expressed by their constituents and take those views into account when the final votes are cast. That's why YOU can play an important role of all in shaping legislation.
Choose to make a difference by becoming an active participant with others in policymaking.
You're powerful — because you live and vote in your legislator's district. And it's the job of your lawmakers to represent you. But they can't effectively represent your interests unless you communicate with them around the issues you care about. Your elected representatives pay close attention to grassroots points of view expressed by their constituents and take those views into account when the final votes are cast. That's why YOU can play an important role of all in shaping legislation.
Choose to make a difference by becoming an active participant with others in policymaking.
Resources
COMMUNITY SCHOOLS: TRANSFORMING STRUGGLING SCHOOLS INTO THRIVING SCHOOLS
The South Carolina Education Association (The SCEA) is pleased to submit recommendations to improve education opportunities in the state as a result of the Abbeville v. the State of South Carolina equity lawsuit. Following the 3–2 decision that determined that South Carolina was failing to provide the poorest districts with enough funding to meet the constitutional standard of a minimally adequate education, the S.C. Supreme Court ordered lawmakers and the governor in the lawsuit to find ways to improve poor and rural schools. The court ordered the Legislature to work with representatives of those school districts to come up with a solution. And, in 2016, the federal Every Students Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed into law, requiring states and districts to employ school improvement strategies supported by evidence from studies that fall into Tiers 1-3. The S.C. Supreme Court order and the new ESSA law are opportunities to remodel South Carolina’s education strategy for all schools, including poor and rural schools. If lawmakers decide to utilize our recommended Community School strategy in South Carolina, they will join many other states that have turned the page on decades of inequity.
The SCEA has a well-deserved reputation for defending and protecting children, as well as public education in our state. With over 135 years of service, the organization is a part of the National Education Association (NEA), the nation's largest professional employee organization. The NEA's 3 million members work at every level of education with affiliate organizations in every state and in more than 14,000 communities across the United States.
The SCEA has a well-deserved reputation for defending and protecting children, as well as public education in our state. With over 135 years of service, the organization is a part of the National Education Association (NEA), the nation's largest professional employee organization. The NEA's 3 million members work at every level of education with affiliate organizations in every state and in more than 14,000 communities across the United States.
