Objective

To develop a highly skilled, well-educated population, which will increase job opportunities and security for citizens with dynamic companies doing business in South Carolina.

Background

The South Carolina General Assembly passed the Education and Economic Development Act (EEDA), now called Personal Pathways to Success, in 2005. The primary goals of Personal Pathways are to increase high school completion rates, better prepare students for work and college, increase parental involvement and increase options for students at risk of dropping out of school. Personal Pathways allows electives and classes to be tailored to each student’s career interests. If students can translate the applicability of what they are learning into more earning potential and a better quality of life, then more students will buy into South Carolina’s educational system and prosper.

Based on 2010 census data, South Carolina has 3,083,455 adults between the ages of 25 and 64. Roughly 17.8 percent (548,865) have not completed high school or obtained a GED. South Carolina must continue to invest in adult learning. No state can afford to write off its undereducated adults. They are a large percentage of the current and future workforce, and, more importantly, they are the parents of children currently in the K-12 system. If they can achieve higher education credentials, their children will be less likely to drop out of high school, breaking the cycle of low academic achievement. The positive ripple effects to the state will continue for years to come.

Situation

The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce’s Excellence in Education Council has developed 10 overarching Education Goals it believes should be met or exceeded by 2020.

1. 99 percent of all South Carolina high school students have electronic Individual Graduation Plans (eIGP).
2. 85 percent of all South Carolina high school students will graduate on-time as measured by the U.S. Department of Education’s Uniform Graduation Rate formula.
3. 80 percent of South Carolina four-year-old at-risk youth (free and reduced lunch) will complete 4K.
4. South Carolina will be in the top five states in average 4th and 8th grade student NAEP score improvement.
5. The Palmetto State will achieve a 50 percent reduction of the student achievement gap on PASS testing from 2009 results.
6. All high school seniors will have a WorkKeys® (including soft skills) certificate.
7. 15,000 GEDs (including WorkKeys certification) will be awarded annually.
8. South Carolina will have 10 times more businesses offering registered apprenticeships versus 2009 baseline.
9. South Carolina will exceed the national average for adults holding two- or four-year degrees.
10. South Carolina will have a clear, coherent standardized pathway for adults to further their education.