 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Education Marches
Toward Lofty Goals |
|
n North Carolina, we are committed to building a highly skilled workforce and giving all our citizens
every opportunity to succeed. Even in tough economic times, we have focused on increasing our
investments in education and infrastructure – both key components to attracting quality business
and industry to the state. We are expanding the ‘More at Four’ pre-kindergarten program to help
at-risk four-year-olds start school ready to learn, reducing class size in grades K-3, and our
community colleges are helping workers across the state transition their skills to better compete
in today’s global marketplace.”
~ MIKE EASLEY, N.C. GOVERNOR
“We've made strides in accountability, there's no doubt about that. Now we've got to build on
that by making sure more money is finding its way down to the front line of the education battlefield -
the teacher's classroom. We've proposed restructuring the way we fund education in South Carolina
to make sure that happens along with a series of safety and discipline reforms designed to make
teachers the sovereigns of their classrooms. Add to that our commitment to giving parents more
choices in the educational marketplace and I think we've got a recipe to move South Carolina
forward in the years to come.”
~ MARK SANFORD, S.C. GOVERNOR
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
n South Carolina, First Steps
is helping to prepare youngsters for school. The program is patterned after North Carolina’s
Smart Start.
In recent years, thousands of teachers, parents, business people and political leaders have joined forces for education. Their efforts are paying off. Both states won national recognition for work in developing curriculum frameworks and academic standards. Teacher salaries continue to improve: Most recent figures show that a South Carolina teacher can expect to earn an average salary of $43,011. A teacher in North Carolina can earn $43,343.
|
|
|
John and Fay Barlow recently moved into Persimmon Grove, a Mungo Homes community in Lexington, South Carolina. Mr. Barlow is a forester, and was offered a job with Plum Creek Timber. That precipitated the move, but their home choice was driven by Mrs. Barlow’s desire to make sure their son, Jonah, would go to Lexington District One public schools.
“I did lots of research online, and decided this was the school district for us,” she explained. Mrs. Barlow had homeschooled Jonah, and wanted his transition to be a smooth one. “When we first enrolled Jonah, his counselor and everyone on staff at Pleasant Hill Middle School was very attentive to our family. They were very aware of his strengths and paid attention to his needs as well.” Mrs. Barlow is a substitute teacher in the district and has found the children to be “extremely well behaved.” The family likes their new home in Persimmon Grove as well. She notes the swimming pool, walking track and pond, plus the new friends they’ve made.
“Jonah is excited about auditioning for the robotics team in school,” she said. “This move has been great for us; we’re not leaving.”
“The first thing you notice about the schools here is their cleanliness,” said Adam Happer from his home at Bedford in Falls River, in Raleigh. “The facilities are newer than the older schools we came from on Long Island and everyone takes pride in keeping them at their best.”
For the Happer family, that was a positive signal for their move, but perhaps more important than the look, was the attitude of the educators they found. “We are so happy with the level of communication we receive from teachers and administrators,” Mr. Happer explained. “We moved our children in March of 2004, which meant they had only eight weeks before school ended for the summer.” He continued, “Of course they had some adjustments with different curriculums, and a stronger emphasis here on reading.” The children made the move very well, and were able to make friends that carried them through the summer and into the next year.
One child attends Wakefield High School, while a second is in Wakefield Middle School, with the third in Wildwood Forest Elementary. Mr. Happer is a retired police detective, and his wife, Kelly, is working from home for her New York employer. They were not the first in their families to move to Raleigh, following his sister, who moved 12 years ago, and his parents, who moved about five years ago.
“You couldn’t drag me back to Long Island,” he said. “I drive into this community every day and feel like I’m on vacation. My wife and I have become so relaxed, everyone has noticed it.”
Apparently the migration hasn’t stopped. He chuckled, “My brother-in-law has started looking for a home here, and my partner is moving down, as well, when he retires.”
|
|
|
A+ 35 N.C. schools have been recognized as “super safe,” a designation that identifies schools which make exemplary efforts to ensure the safety of students. Find a list of them at www.ncpublicschools.org/newsroom/news/2006-07/20070206-01
A+ Spartanburg High School’s summer reading program is flourishing, with 100% participation by students. Educators worldwide are studying the innovative approach to literacy that is lighting a fire about books in the hearts of these high school students.
A+ North Carolina accounts for the highest number by state of the nation’s National Board Certified teachers – 11,325. Wake County Public Schools leads the national district list with 1,156. South Carolina ranks third in the nation for its number of nationally-certified teachers.
A+ Recently, Education Trust, an education research organization, ranked S.C., Maine and Massachusetts as #1 in the nation for setting the country’s highest academic standards.
A+ Modeled after the nine-year-old National Schools of Character (NSOC) Awards, the N.C. State Schools of Character (SSOC) Awards recognize schools with exemplary character education programs at the state level. The inaugural winner was D.F. Walker Elementary (Edenton-Chowan) and runners-up were Devonshire Elementary (Charlotte-Mecklenburg) and South Newton Elementary (Newton-Conover).
A+ South Carolina is a national leader in service-learning programs, which enable students to develop community service projects linked to academic studies. Each year, more than 100,000 South Carolina students volunteer one million-plus hours of community service through service-learning programs.
A+ Thanks to a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, eight North Carolina high schools (Asheville City, Cumberland County, Durham County, Granville County, Newton-Conover City, Scotland County, Wake County and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County) will be able to “re-invent” themselves by creating new high schools and schools-within-schools that focus on health science.
A+ One hundred and twenty-eight award-winning Palmetto Gold and Palmetto Silver schools are sharing their success stories with others through the S.C. Department of Education’s 2007 Palmetto Gold and Silver Awards Showcase.
Read more at: http://ed.sc.gov/agency/offices/cso/goldandsilver/PGSshowcase.html
|
|
|
|
|
Becoming a Leader in Technology
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cooperation between public and private sectors has made the Carolinas nationally recognized in education technology.
The region’s Educational Technology Plan, completed with help from educators, business leaders and telecommunications experts, supplies information and technical advice that allow districts to push school technology with cost-effectiveness and academic benefit.
Students in the Carolinas can benefit from the opportunities at a number of public and private colleges and universities, in addition to a superb technical college system that offers specialized industry and technology training.
Research programs and varied curricula keep technology upfront, while strong liberal arts programs help foster well-rounded adults who are capable of workplace innovation and communication.
Teachers work hard to keep parents involved and the partnership is fertile ground for keeping young people excited about learning.
|
|
|
|
|
More Choices for Parents and Students
|
|
|
|
|
|
There are more choices in the public school system, including public charter schools, magnet schools, and more. Educational choices include Montessori schools, special curriculums or innovative scheduling. New programs are finding that single gender classrooms offer great promise to keep young minds challenged.
A number of private and military schools in the Carolinas offer more options to parents seeking specialized education for their children.
For some families, home schooling is the best choice. Approximately 1,300 home-schooling families
represent an enrollment of more than 2,000 students within the S.C. Association of
Independent Home Schools 803.454.0427.
The N.C. Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE) is authorized to monitor home schools in that
state 919.733.4276.
Elderhostel has a number of programs offered for 55+ in South Carolina and North Carolina. For Elderhostel information visit
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Katherine O. Pettit has worked as a writer, magazine editor, printer and
public relations consultant. The Columbia resident has published
more than 250 articles in magazines and newspapers. Her writing
explores a variety of subjects including travel, lifestyles, business
and management.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
