SC Educator Preparation

Study Tools

Find test prep materials for the PRAXIS, GRE, and more through Thrift Library's Discus resources:

  • Learning Express Library-features test prep for preservice teachers as well as resources for educators
  • Mometrix eLibrary-features test prep for PRAXIS, GRE, and other professional exams as well as test prep and curriculum standards for state assessments, Common Core, and more

Praxis

What do I need to do to prepare to take the Praxis?

The South Carolina State Board of Education (SBE) adopts nationally recognized educator assessments for certification purposes, and for most preservice teachers this involves taking the Praxis exam in various subject area tests. Follow the link below for more information about South Carolina's certification process and what specific subject area tests are required for your future career. 

SC Department of Education Certification Assessments

You can also refer to the Praxis website to learn more information about SC and other state requirements. 

Praxis Fee Waiver Information

The Praxis test is expensive, especially for college students preparing for a career! There are resources for you to apply for to reimburse the cost of testing fees. 

TEACH South Carolina (TeachSC) is a statewide coalition of K-12 schools, colleges, government, community organizations and nonprofits. They're here to help the next generation of South Carolina teachers by providing free tools to explore the profession, choose a pathway and get certified. The initiative is led by the South Carolina Department of Education and TEACH. Among other resources, Teach SC will reimburse students for $100 to pay for test fees. Click here to sign up and apply for reimbursement.

ETS (the testing company who makes the Praxis) also offers a waiver depending on the following requirements:

  1. You're receiving financial aid.
  2. You're enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program and can provide a current Enrollment Verification Certificate. (You're ineligible if you have a master's or a doctoral degree.)
  3. You can provide the 2023-2024 FAFSA Student Aid Report (SAR) that shows an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $3,000 or less.
  4. You're required to take a Praxis test by an authorized score recipient.

You're eligible for a fee waiver only once during a testing year, and there are a limited number of waivers available per test date and per institution. All requests are processed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Click here for more information and here to go directly to the waiver form.

SC Professional Organizations

SCASA-South Carolina Association for School Administrators

SCPTA-South Carolina Parent Teacher Association

PSTA-Palmetto State Teachers Association 

SCEA-South Carolina Educator's Association

SCSBA-South Carolina School Boards Association

TeachSC

National and International Professional Organizations

General 

ACE-American Council on Education

AFT-American Federation of Teachers

ASCD-Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development

ATE-Association of Teacher Educators

ILA-International Literacy Association

NABSE-National Association of Black School Educators

NEA-National Education Association

NSBA-National School Boards Association

PDK-Phi Delta Kappa

Early Childhood and Elementary

NAEYC-National Association for the Education of Young Children

Secondary

AMLE-Association for Middle Level Education

Technology

AACE-Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education

CTETE-Council on Technology Teacher Education

ISTE-International Society for Technology in Education

SETDA-State Educational Technology Directors Association

SITE-Society for Technology and Teacher Education

Subject-Specific

NAEA-National Art Education Association

NAFME-National Association for Music Education

NCEA-National Business Education Association

NCSS-National Council for the Social Studies

NCTE-National Council of Teachers of English

NCTM-National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

NSTA-National Science Teaching Association

SHAPE America, Society for Health and Physical Educators

Special Education

CEC-Council for Exceptional Children

LDA-Learning Disabilities Association of America

Gifted

CEC-Council for Exceptional Children

NAGC-National Association for Gifted Children

School Librarians

AASL-American Association for School Librarians

Administration

AASA-The School Superintendent's Association

ALAS-Association for Latino Administrators and Superintendents

NAESP-National Association of Elementary School Principals

NASSP-National Association of Secondary School Principals

SC Curriculum Standards

The South Carolina State Education Standards outline the academic expectations for students in the state from kindergarten through high school. They are designed to ensure that students acquire essential skills and knowledge to be successful in college, career, and civic life. The standards are periodically reviewed and updated to reflect current research, best practices in teaching, and the evolving needs of students. Additionally, South Carolina uses assessments like the South Carolina College- and Career-Ready Assessments (SC READY) and End-of-Course Exams (EOCEP) to measure student proficiency and ensure alignment with the state standards. Teachers are encouraged to integrate critical thinking, problem-solving, and real-world applications into their instructional practices to help students meet these expectations.

SC Education Standards

Assessments

The SBE Office of Assessment and Standards sets the required testing and schedule for each school year. Several state mandated assessments are required each year:

Pre-K and Kindergarten Assessments

  • Individual Growth and Development Indicators (myIGDIs)
  • Teaching Strategies GOLD ®
  • Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA)

Gifted and Talented Assessments

  • Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)
  • Iowa Assessments (IA)
  • South Carolina Performance Tasks (PTA) 

English Language Learners

  • ACCESS for ELLs® and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs®

End-of-Course Tests

  • End-of-Course Examination Program (EOCEP)
  • Algebra 1, Biology 1, English 2, and U.S. History and the Constitution
  • SC Alternate Assessment Online available

SC READY

  • English Language Arts and Mathematics, Grades 3-8
  • Science, Grades 4 and 6
  • Social Studies, Grades 5 and 8
  • SC Alternate Assessment Online available

Career Readiness Assessment

  • Districts must administer the career readiness assessments to all Grade 11 students.
  • It must also be administered to any Grade 12 who have not been tested or who wish to retake one or more parts to improve their scores and/or credentials.
  • All grade 12 students must test online unless they have an IEP, 504, or ILAP requiring paper testing

College Prep

  • Districts must offer one or both the PSAT or PreACT to all Grade 10 students
  • Districts must offer all Grade 11 students the opportunity to take the ACT or SAT college entrance assessment

National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)

  • Also known as the Nation's Report Card, this assessment is the largest continuing and nationally representative assessment of what our students know and can do.
  • The NAEP uses a sampling procedure to ensure results are representative of the diversity of schools and students in the state. First, individual schools are selected within the state, then students are selected to represent their peers. 
  • Students aged nine, thirteen, and seventeen are selected as benchmark ages, and results are never reported for individual students or schools. 
  • Included in this program are assessments in mathematics and reading, as well as field tests in math and reading for grades 4, 8, and 12.  

Non-mandated Assessments

  • Formative or Interim Assessments like iReady©, MAP, or STAR-List of State Approved Formative Assessments
  • Advanced Placement Exams (AP)
  • South Carolina Junior Scholars Program-districts may offer the PSAT/NMQST to current Grade 8 Students to qualify for the Junior Scholars program
  • SC Fitnessgram-a statewide movement to evaluate and improve the health-related fitness among public school students. Participating schools collect fitness data from students in grades 2, 5, 8, and high school. 

Instructional Materials

The Department of Education's Office of Instructional Materials is tasked, by the Instructional Materials Adoption regulation (43-70), to adopt the resources used for instruction in the public schools of South Carolina. The Instructional Materials Advisory Committee advises the State Board of Education (SBE) by meeting annually to formulate recommendations, funding priorities for new materials, contract extensions, and the new adoption calendar. The Committee consists of public school teachers, district administrators, and laypersons. Members of the public are also invited to review proposed instructional materials virtually and to submit comments for review by the Advisory Committee. 

Office of Instructional Materials

Comprehensive Listings of State Adopted and Supplemental Instructional Materials

The Curriculum Lab no longer collects physical textbooks, but virtual review is available for educators and members of the public at the link below:

Virtual Public Review

Textbooks are also available for review by schools and district staff during a state-wide caravan of presentations by participating publishers. The intent of the caravan is to allow participating districts and schools equal time with publishers to ensure high quality instructional materials are available for the classroom. 

Textbook Caravan Information

Charter and Online Schools

Charter Schools

Online Schools

*denotes a member of the South Carolina Public Charter School District

Private Schools

Anderson County

Greenville County

Oconee County

Pickens County