Saluda Trail Middle and York Middle Schools Awarded State Grants for Teacher Excellence

The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) has awarded $5 million in Strategic Compensation Pilot Grants to 37 schools across 29 districts, aiming to accelerate student growth in English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics. Among the recipients are Saluda Trail Middle School in the Rock Hill School District Three and York Middle School in the York School District 1.

These grants are designed to reward educators based on measurable student academic growth, moving beyond traditional pay structures that often emphasize tenure over performance. State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver highlighted the initiative’s focus on recognizing and supporting effective teaching, stating, “When we recognize and support the very best teaching, we set a new horizon for what’s possible for students in every corner of our state.”

Participating schools have the option to implement one of three compensation models:?

• State Collaboration Model: Utilizes SC Ready growth data for grades 4-8.?

• Excellence in Teaching Model: Relies on fall-to-spring interim assessment growth for grades K-8.?

• District-Designed Model: Allows districts to create custom compensation plans using quantitative student growth data.?

Both Saluda Trail Middle School and York Middle School have chosen the State-Collaboration Approach, focusing on grades 6-8 and 7-8, respectively.

The SCDE received applications from 118 schools requesting over $22 million in funding, underscoring the demand for innovative teacher compensation strategies in South Carolina. The 37 selected schools will serve as models for rewarding teaching excellence and retaining high-performing educators.

The average grant award exceeds $120,000, with final allocations determined by student enrollment and academic growth outcomes. The SCDE will collaborate closely with districts to ensure effective implementation, aiming to directly benefit educators who drive significant results in the classroom.

This initiative represents a significant shift in teacher compensation, emphasizing student success and aiming to strengthen South Carolina’s educational system by investing in effective teaching practice.

For a full list of awarded schools, visit the SCDE website.