The National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) is partnering with the South Carolina Public Charter School District on a three-year, $16 million competitive grant from the federal Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) program. The grant supports SC Raising Instructional Standards for Excellence (SC RISE), which strengthens teacher effectiveness through evidence-based professional development in literacy, numeracy, remedial instruction, and other district and student needs.
Who SC RISE Serves
SC RISE serves 327 teachers and 5,135 students across six of the district’s charter schools. About 50% of those students meet the state’s poverty criteria.
These high-need schools have historically faced challenges recruiting, developing, and retaining effective teachers and instructional leaders. Through the partnership, participating schools will implement the TAP System for Teacher and Student Advancement, a research-based school improvement model with demonstrated student achievement results in South Carolina and nationally.
Teacher Leadership Roles
A key strategy of SC RISE is establishing and expanding formal teacher leadership roles. Teacher leaders provide differentiated, job-embedded professional development to their colleagues. These roles are designed to:
- Build schoolwide instructional capacity
- Strengthen mathematics instruction
- Provide ongoing support to both new and veteran teachers
- Help the district attract and retain highly effective teachers
- Create a sustainable pipeline of instructionally focused leaders
A Long-Term Approach
Rather than relying on short-term workshops, SC RISE establishes ongoing systems and routines for professional learning, instructional support, and continuous improvement within participating schools. The goal is sustained improvement in instructional practice and student outcomes, and a model other districts and states can follow.
What Leaders Are Saying
“Our partnership with NIET will enable us to strengthen school-level processes and structures that foster professional learning, collaboration, and continuous improvement,” said South Carolina Public Charter School District Superintendent Chris Neeley. “This work builds on what we have accomplished over the last several years to strengthen our school leaders and classroom teachers. Ultimately, though, this work is about our students. Kids First is our promise, and everything we do to strengthen educators should help us better see each child, recognize their spark, and help that spark grow.”
“Great teachers change lives, and strong instructional leaders help great teachers thrive,” said South Carolina State Superintendent Ellen Weaver. “When we invest in educators, we invest directly in student success.”
“Teacher quality is the single most powerful school-based lever for improving student outcomes,” said NIET Chief Executive Officer Dr. Joshua Barnett. “We are excited to partner with the South Carolina Public Charter School District on this project, and we look forward to the improvements in teacher quality and student achievement to come.”
About NIET
For more than 25 years, NIET has worked with schools, districts, states, and universities to develop teacher leaders, support successful instructional strategies, and build educator capacity. NIET has served more than 11,000 schools and impacted more than 350,000 educators and 3.5 million students.
