The Official Web Site of the State of South Carolina

SC Centers of Excellence for Teacher Education

COE Photo Collage

Research has shown that the single greatest factor influencing student achievement is teacher quality.

The South Carolina Centers of Excellence program is a competitive grant program funded through the South Carolina Education Improvement Act of 1984 that enables eligible institutions, or groupings of such institutions, to serve as state-of-the-art resource centers for the state in a specific area related to the improvement of teacher education with a concentration on assisting rural, underperforming schools and districts. These resource centers develop and model state-of-the-art teaching practices, conduct research, disseminate information, and provide training for P-12 and higher education personnel in a center's specific area of expertise.

The centers promote a variety of programs and services, including:

  • Alternative educator certification programs to prepare teachers to teach in high-need areas
  • Professional development programs
  • Research on teacher education and professional development
  • Teacher retention and recruitment
  • Leadership development and training at rural schools
  • Retention and recruitment of diverse educators

Each year, centers must report back to the CHE on program progress. Institutions may also propose new centers during the grant proposal window.

Center Highlight: Clemson LEADERS

Participants in the LEADERS Center of Excellence, Pickens County Cohort held their first Leadership Coaching Community (LCC) Day on Oct. 25. The 11 school leaders and leadership coaches learned about using improvement science to lead change in schools that aim to increase teacher retention and student learning outcomes. They will participate in center activities for one year and share the results of their work at the Educational Leadership Summer Summit at Clemson University on June 6, 2025.

Clemson LEADERS photo collage
South Carolina Centers of Excellence Websites

 

Coming soon:

  • Teacher Leadership Development - Converse University
  • Center of Excellence for the Science of Reading - Lander University, Presbyterian College, and USC Upstate

 

Previous Centers: Center for Mathematical Literacy at The Citadel; CRE2 DE at Clemson, SC-TEACHER - USC Columbia, Center of Excellence for College and Career Readiness at FMU.

Request For Proposals