South Carolina teachers may soon see better contracts with new Educator Assistance Act

(WCIV) — Working conditions could soon improve for public school teachers in South Carolina.

The State House unanimously passed the Educator Assistance Act last week. It is a bill that is largely focused on refining contracts.

Currently, teachers are required to sign a contract for the following school year before the current year ends. This often leaves them making a binding commitment without knowing their salary, where or what they’ll be teaching.

“I think a lot of people are interested in education, are interested in making a difference in children’s lives, and that’s really what the driving factor is, but it has to be sustainable,” said Patrick Martin, a high school teacher in the Charleston County School District (CCSD).

Martin is also a member of the Palmetto State Teachers Association, a group largely advocating for the bill.

Under the Educator Assistance Act, school districts must list a projected minimum salary on teacher contracts and notify educators of their school assignments two weeks before the year starts.

The bill also provides teachers two planning days before the first day of school and requires a five-day warning from district officials before moving teachers to a different campus mid-year.

“Making sure that teachers are respected as professionals, are paid commensurate with that level of responsibility, has been a priority for me,” said State Rep. Spencer Wetmore.

The Charleston County Democrat is one of 45 co-sponsors on the bi-partisan legislation.

Increasing teacher pay has been a priority for the General Assembly and Gov. Henry McMaster with a starting salary goal of $50,000 statewide. According to the state’s 2024-25 educator supply and demand report, teacher vacancies are down by 35%, which could be a nod to continuous pay hikes.

Charleston County teachers are the highest paid in the state, with entry-level educators making at least $56,000. But district officials say they’re also focusing on improving working conditions.

“We’re obviously looking at childcare opportunities, protected planning time for teachers. We’re reevaluating leave right now for teachers to give teachers some more flexibility,” said William Briggman, chief human resource officer for CCSD.

Getting new teachers in the classroom is important but so is keeping them there, Martin said.

This legislation would also make the certification renewal process essentially automatic for current teachers. Rather than needing to complete an additional 120 renewal credits outside of the classroom, teachers’ required planned development work would count toward recertification.

“We want our professional development to be useful and targeted and meaningful way we can reduce burdensome paperwork, I think it’s a great thing,” Martin said.

The bill is now sent back to the State Senate, where legislators previously failed to pick it up for debate.