2026 Stronger Connections Subgrant Opportunity
(Dec 17, 2025)
To:
Principals
District PIOs
District Superintendents
The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) announces that the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Stronger Connections Discretionary Subgrant is now available online. Approximately $825,000 will be distributed on a competitive basis. The SCDE anticipates awarding approximately 5 subgrants, with the minimum of $50,000 and the maximum award being $200,000. The deadline to apply is February 6, 2026.
Principal Supervisors Initiative Pilot
(Dec 16, 2025)
The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) is pleased to announce the launch of the Principal Supervisor Initiative – Cohort One. This initiative is designed to support the professional growth of principal supervisors across the state by aligning their work with the Model Principal Supervisor Professional Standards developed through research from the Wallace Foundation.
2026 Advanced Placement Teacher Institutes Grant Opportunity
(Dec 16, 2025)
The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) announces that the 2026 Request for Proposals for the Advanced Placement (AP) Teacher Institutes grant is now available online. Approximately $190,000 in funding will be distributed on a competitive basis for approximately 10 Arts Teacher Institutes. The deadline to apply is January 23, 2026.
Comprehensive Health Education Compliance Checklist
(Dec 16, 2025)
On October 28, 2025, the South Carolina Attorney General (SCAG) issued an opinion in response to a request from state legislators concerning the curricula that some school districts use for sex education. This opinion has direct implications for how districts implement their Comprehensive Health Education programs under state law and Proviso 1.40 of the 2025-2026 Appropriations Act.
Multilingual Learners Who Take WIDA ACCESS - WIDA Standard Setting
(Dec 16, 2025)
To:
District Superintendents
Accountability Coordinators
Power School Coordinators
During the testing window from January 21 to March 6, 2026, Local Education Agencies (LEAs) will administer the new WIDA ACCESS to all eligible multilingual learners (MLs).
WIDA will conduct a standard setting in July 2026. Score results are expected on time. For the 2025–26 academic year, WIDA will continue using the current proficiency levels (1.0-6.0) on Individual Student Reports (ISRs) to prevent confusion.
2025–26 Strategic Compensation Pilot Application
(Dec 9, 2025)
The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) is re-opening the Strategic Compensation Pilot to add additional schools as funding allows for the 2025–26 school year. The deadline to apply is January 15, 2026.
