On this episode of Kids First, Keven Cohen welcomes South Carolina State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver, joined by Superintendent Chris Neeley. In a wide-ranging conversation, Weaver celebrates what she calls the South Carolina Surge, the state's best-ever results in reading and math, including its highest reading scores on record and a full recovery to pre-pandemic levels in math. She explains the strategy behind the gains, a simple but powerful pairing of high expectations with high support, and why investing in teachers through better materials, training in the science of reading, and math coaches is the real engine driving student growth. Along the way, she pushes back on the old habit of telling a deficit story about South Carolina, arguing that the state's children are every bit as capable as any in the country when they are given the right support.
Looking ahead to the new school year and the priorities shaping 2026 and 2027, Weaver and Neeley dig into career-aligned pathways that prepare students for college, career, and military service, the growth of workforce centers of excellence, and a coming refresh of the state's social studies and civics standards built around a coherent American story and strong character education. They also make the case for a permanent infrastructure bank to help rural districts and public charter schools meet their facilities needs, a challenge Neeley knows firsthand since charter schools receive no local funding for buildings. It is an optimistic, forward-looking look at where South Carolina education has been, how far it has come, and the work still ahead to put every child first.
🔗 Learn more: https://ed.sc.gov/
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