Bill Seeks to Lure South Carolinians Into Second Careers in Teaching

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – While South Carolina aims to increase the number of educators in schools, the state is exploring options beyond merely recruiting college graduates; they are also considering individuals with professional backgrounds outside the education sector.

A bill That is now only a few steps away from being signed into law by the governor, this measure aims to entice more individuals with professional backgrounds to pursue teaching positions in relevant fields.

"Please approve this legislation. It will be transformative for hiring and keeping teachers," said Patrick Kelly, a high school educator from Richland County who also serves with the Palmetto State Teachers Association, during his testimony at a House Education and Public Works subcommittee meeting earlier this week.

In South Carolina, public school educators are entitled to a base salary scale that takes into account their educational background and years of teaching experience.

This legislation proposes allowing job experience pertinent to their intended teaching area to count as twice the amount needed for advancement within the salary structure.

For instance, an individual with 10 years of laboratory experience transitioning into their first year as a science teacher would start at the same salary level as a science teacher who has already spent five years in the classroom.

"It represents transformative funds for teachers," Kelly stated.

Should the legislation pass exactly as currently drafted, this change would mean that experiences gained beyond the classroom would no longer contribute towards qualifications for pensions or the state health benefits; they would solely affect salary increments.

North Carolina already implements this policy, so advocates argue that it would serve as a crucial recruitment strategy, particularly in regions close to the border. This is because prospective educators choosing between positions in South and North Carolina might find these incentives persuasive.

Georgia, South Carolina's neighboring state, doesn't provide an equivalent option.

Experience working in classrooms as a teaching assistant, part-time aid, or full-time paraprofessional will be credited at an equal value when these individuals obtain their certification as teachers.

"To motivate individuals with practical life experiences to join our educational institutions—I concur, this will be transformative," Representative James Teeple, R—Charleston, stated prior to the House subcommittee's unanimous decision to move the legislation forward to the full House Education and Public Works Committee.

The previous year, a comparable bill narrowly missed being sent to the governor after getting entangled in a dispute between the House and the Senate regarding different aspects of education policy.

Kelly stated that this year’s legislation, which has already been approved without opposition in the Senate, is of utmost importance for educators in South Carolina.

"The initial push for this bill began four years back when I encountered two educators in Fort Mill. These individuals transitioned from scientific careers to teaching, driven by their zeal and enthusiasm. However, they accepted a substantial decrease of $30,000 annually to enter the education sector. This legislation aimed at altering that situation," explained Kelly.

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