Draft:Charter Institute at Erskine

Introduction

The Charter Institute at Erskine (the Institute) is a public charter school district based in Columbia, South Carolina. Established in 2018, it serves as a statewide charter school authorizer, overseeing and supporting public charter schools across South Carolina. As of 2023, the Institute oversees 26 schools with a total enrollment of over 25,000 students. An inspirational YouTube video describes the Institute’s beginnings in 2018 to becoming one of the fastest growing school districts in South Carolina.

The Institute operates under the South Carolina Charter Schools Act, which allows for multiple statewide authorizers. This model differs from many other states' charter school systems and has implications for charter school access and oversight in South Carolina.

Mission and Vision

The Institute states its mission is to "empower families with educational choice and foster innovation and creativity through high-quality charter schools." Its vision encompasses expanding educational opportunities for all students in South Carolina.

The Institute's stated goals include:

1. Authorizing and supporting high-quality charter schools

2. Promoting innovation in education

3. Ensuring accountability and compliance with state and federal education laws

4. Providing diverse educational options to meet varied student needs

Cameron Runyan serves as the current Superintendent and is a co-founder of the Institute.

Organization and Administration

The Institute currently has 37 employees and maintains a Web page for job openings at the Institute and in its schools.

Organizational Chart

The Institute has an organizational chart that lists all staff members, led by Superintendent Runyan and Chief Operating Officer Vamshi Rudrapati. Leaders in the organization include two superintendents, Missy Brakefield and Mike Sinclair, two deputy superintendents Dr. Bill Roach and Jeanie Glover, along with Chief of Staff Christy Junkins, and Naomi Morgan, Chief of Accountability and School Performance. There are 10 members of the Institute’s leadership cabinet.

Governance Structure

The Institute is governed by a seven-member board, which appoints a superintendent, who runs the daily operations of the district. The Institute’s board of trustees has authority over the management of the Institute, which exercises direct oversight of its portfolio of charter schools. The Institute reports to the South Carolina Department of Education and must ensure that the schools in its portfolio follow federal, state, and local laws.

Relationship With Erskine College

Erskine College delegated its sponsoring authority to the Charter Institute at Erskine, which is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the state of South Carolina. The Institute is governed by an independent board that is chaired by current Erskine College President Dr. Steven Adamson. Erskine College does not and cannot receive any state funds from the Institute or its charter schools.

South Carolina Charter Schools Act and The Role of an Authorizer

South Carolina Charter Schools Act

The South Carolina Charter Schools Act (“the Act”), codified in Title 59, Chapter 40 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, establishes the framework for charter schools in the state. Key features of South Carolina's charter authorization system include:

• Multiple statewide authorizers, including non-profit entities
• Authorizer independence from traditional school systems
• Statewide jurisdiction for authorizers
• Specialized authorizer expertise in charter school operations
• Potential for alternative accountability measures, subject to state approval

This "authorizing shop" model differs from many other states and may have several implications:

• Potentially increased access to charter schools, particularly in areas where local districts might be hesitant to authorize charters
• More specialized support and oversight for charter schools
• Possible encouragement of innovation in school models and authorizing practices
• A system of checks and balances in the charter sector

However, this model also presents challenges, such as ensuring consistency across different authorizers and maintaining uniform standards for all charter schools.

Role as an Authorizer

As a charter school authorizer in South Carolina, the Institute's responsibilities include:

• Reviewing and approving charter applications
• Monitoring school performance and compliance
• Providing support and resources to authorized schools
• Ensuring accountability and adherence to state and federal education laws
• Promoting best practices in charter school education

Through these functions, the Institute plays a significant role in shaping the charter school landscape in South Carolina. Its impact on educational quality, innovation, and access continues to be a subject of discussion among educators, policymakers, and community members.

Finances

Under the South Carolina Education Finance Act, each school is allocated state funds based on its enrollment. As codified in the South Carolina Charter Schools Act, Title 59, Chapter 40, Section 55 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, Institute-sponsored schools operate under a contract with the Institute and pay a fee of no more than 2 percent of its state allocation per fiscal year to the authorizer for its services as a sponsor. The Institute uses this revenue for its operations and to provide support for schools and their children per the Act. The Institute publishes its financials on its website.

Charter Approval Process And Oversight

According to the South Carolina Charter Schools Act, the Institute, as a charter school authorizer in South Carolina, is responsible for reviewing charter applications, approving new schools, and providing ongoing oversight. This section outlines the processes involved in charter approval and the Institute's oversight responsibilities.

Charter Approval Process

The Institute follows a multistep process for charter school approval, as outlined in its Charter School Application Packet:

Letter of Intent: Prospective charter school operators submit a letter of intent to the Institute.

Application Submission: Applicants complete a comprehensive charter school application, which includes:

• The proposed school's mission and vision
• Educational program and curriculum
• Governance and organizational structure
• Financial plan and budget projections
• Facilities plan
• Student enrollment and recruitment strategies
• Staffing plans

Application Review: Institute staff and external reviewers evaluate the application based on established criteria.

Capacity Interview: Applicants participate in a capacity interview with the review team.

Public Board Hearing: The Institute holds a public board hearing to gather community input on the proposed charter school.

Decision: The Institute's board makes a decision to approve or deny the charter application.

Contract Negotiation: If approved, the Institute and the charter school negotiate and sign a charter contract.

In the 2021-22 school year, the Institute received 11 charter applications and approved four, representing an approval rate of 36 percent.

Oversight Responsibilities

Once a charter school is operational, the Institute maintains ongoing oversight:

1. Academic Performance Monitoring: The Institute reviews academic data to ensure schools meet performance expectations. In 2022, 65 percent of the Institute's schools met or exceeded state averages on standardized tests.
2. Financial Oversight: Charter schools submit regular financial reports and undergo annual audits. The Institute has implemented a financial risk assessment model to identify schools that may need additional support.
3. Operational Compliance: The Institute ensures that charter schools comply with applicable state and federal laws.
4. Site Visits: Institute representatives conduct periodic site visits to observe school operations.
5. Annual Reports: Charter schools submit annual reports detailing their progress toward academic, financial, and operational goals.
6. Renewal Process: At the end of a charter term, schools undergo a comprehensive review for renewal.
7. Intervention and Revocation: The Institute may implement an intervention plan or revoke a charter if a school is underperforming or in violation of its charter. As of 2023, the Institute has revoked one charter since its inception.

Comparison to Other Authorizers

The Institute's processes are generally similar to those of other authorizers in South Carolina. However, the Institute has developed some unique initiatives, such as its program monitoring and evaluation model, ARCS (Actions, Results, Commitment, and Support), and CSS (Comprehensive School Snapshot), which provides targeted assistance to schools based on their performance and needs.

The effectiveness of the Institute's approval process and oversight responsibilities continues to be a subject of ongoing evaluation and discussion among education stakeholders in South Carolina.

Institute Schools

The Institute oversees the following public schools, of which some are traditional "brick and mortar" schools and some are virtual schools:

School Name	Grades Served	County	Innovation
American Leadership Academy Lexington	K-12	Lexington	Core Knowledge
Ascent Classical Academy - Fort Mill	K-8	York	Classical Education
Belton Preparatory Academy	K-7	Anderson	Entrepreneurial
Berkeley Preparatory Academy	K-8	Berkeley	College Readiness
Brashier Middle College	9-12	Greenville	Middle College
Calhoun Falls Charter School	6-12	Abbeville	Community Schools
Cherokee Charter School	K-8	Cherokee	Core Knowledge
Clear Dot Charter School	K-10	Richland	Global Competence
Cyber Academy of South Carolina	K-12	Virtual - Statewide	Virtual K-12
Gray Collegiate Academy	6-12	Lexington	Dual-Credit
Greenwood Charter Academy	K-6	Greenwood	Core Knowledge
Heron Virtual Academy of South Carolina	9-12	Virtual - Statewide	Virtual AEC
Langston Charter Middle School	6-8	Greenville	Single Gender Education
Libertas Academy - Boiling Springs	K-6	Spartanburg	Core Knowledge
Lowcountry Connections Academy	K-12	Virtual - Statewide	Virtual K-12
Lowcountry Leadership Charter School	K-12	Charleston	Project-Based Learning
Mevers School of Excellence	K-8	Berkeley	College Readiness
Midlands STEM Institute	K-12	Fairfield	STEM
Odyssey Online Learning	9-12	Virtual - Statewide	Virtual 9-12
Royal Live Oaks Academy	K-12	Jasper	Project-Based Learning
South Carolina Connections Academy	K-12	Virtual - Statewide	Virtual K-12
South Carolina Virtual Charter School	K-12	Virtual - Statewide	Virtual K-12
The Montessori School of Camden	K-8	Kershaw	Montessori
Thornwell Charter School	K-11	Laurens	Personalized Learning
Virtus Academy of South Carolina	K-10	Florence	Project-Based Learning
Willie Jeffries School of Excellence	K-6	Orangeburg	College Readiness

Challenges and Institute Responses

Post and Courier

The Charleston Post and Courier began an online “Public Service and Investigative Fund Education Lab,” and according to the newspaper, it consists of three reporters and one editor. While the newspaper has stated on its website that “Donors have no role in deciding what is covered or not, and no involvement in our editorial decision-making,” it does not publicly post the names of donors to the fund, nor has it revealed who the largest donors are to the fund and what organizations they belong to. The newspaper has also not disclosed to the public the top 10 largest donations to the fund annually. Additionally, while the newspaper denies that donors are involved in its editorial decision-making process, it has not disclosed what that process is and what firewalls the paper has established to prevent the undue influence of its donors upon the newspaper editors.

The newspaper states online "The Post and Courier editors and reporters operate independently of our funders and maintain full editorial control over content. Funders do not have special access to reporters. They are not aware of specific stories the newsroom is working on, nor do they review them before publication." The newspaper does not provide the public with any information on how it manages these processes, whether attorneys are involved, or who the donors do come into contact with at the newspaper and what firewalls have been established between donors and reporters.

The newspaper has run several editorials in opposition to charter schools. On August 17, 2024, the paper ran an editorial opining that private colleges in South Carolina should not be able to authorize charter schools and called on the legislature to change the state’s charter school law making it more difficult to establish charter schools. The paper ran another editorial on July 30, 2024, regarding oversight and accountability of educational management services provided to charter schools.

On June 5, 2024, the Post and Courier ran a story noting that the Institute had negotiated a settlement agreement with Oceanside Collegiate Academy and that the Institute board approved the transfer of the school to the Limestone Charter Association.

The Post and Courier cited Stanford University’s Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO) 2023 report for South Carolina’s charter school underperformance. However, as Institute Superintendent Cameron Runyan noted in a letter to the editor published September 16, 2024, in the Charleston City Paper, Stanford’s data ran from the 2014-15 school year to the 2018-19 school year. The Institute was not formed until the 2018-19 school year, the last year of the report.

On May 30, 2024, the paper published an article discussing the issue of authorizer shopping, which enables struggling charter schools to evade accountability by simply changing their authorizing organization. To combat this practice, the Institute and the South Carolina Public Charter School District signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on August 19, 2020, agreeing to suspend charter school transfers between the two authorizing school districts for three years. As the agreement was set to expire in the fall of 2023, both organizations extended the MOA for another 10 years, which included the provision of suspending transfers until 2025.

In an April 11, 2024, report, the paper described the legal process that surrounded the Institute, as it tried to hold two charter schools accountable for underperformance, preventing them from transferring out from the Institute to the Limestone Charter Association. In one instance, the Institute revoked a school for failing to provide the requisite special education services required under federal law.  According to a Post and Courier story, published April 24, 2023, the “Institute said the school violated state and federal laws by unilaterally changing students' individualized education programs — or legally required support services that schools must provide special-needs students to help them succeed academically.”

Legislative Audit Council

In response to a letter sent by a member of the state legislature, the governing board of the South Carolina Legislative Audit Council voted on September 24, 2024, to conduct a performance audit of the Institute. An Institute spokeswoman was quoted in an article in The State saying “It is our hope that the LAC report will address common questions about the Institute’s structure and work while providing an opportunity for Institute schools and boards to share their experience working with us over the past seven years.”

The State and Charleston City Paper

The State newspaper started a series entitled “Unchartered Territory” questioning the efficacy of South Carolina’s charter schools. The first story in the series was published February 29, 2024, and then updated April 23, 2024. The State published another story on April 23, 2024, and a third story also on April 23, 2024.

On August 9, 2024, the Charleston City Paper published an article entitled “Critics point to weak state charter school law,” that described the underperformance of charter schools in South Carolina.

Institute Superintendent Cameron Runyan, responded in a published letter to the editor to the Charleston City Paper on September 16, 2024:

“The article by Jack O’Toole (“Critics point to weak state charter school law,” Aug. 9) cites Stanford University’s 2023 CREDO report as the basis for charter school underperformance in South Carolina. That report uses 2014-15 as its first school year of data. The Charter Institute at Erskine did not exist at that time.

The CREDO report’s last school year of data is 2018-19 – our first year as a charter school sponsor in South Carolina. The Institute is thankful to be the fastest growing school district in the state, overseeing more than 25,000 students across 26 schools, with students from every zip code in the Palmetto State. Recently, 12 Institute schools received an overall report card rating of Good or Excellent, while 11 schools increased their overall rating. Brashier Middle College, an Institute charter school, was the only charter school in the state selected by the U.S. Department of Education for its prestigious National Blue Ribbon School Program. The graduation rate for Institute high schools is nearly 87% which is higher than the State of South Carolina’s 83% rate. This is even more impressive considering how many of our charter schools are in rural communities and that we have the largest number of virtual students in the state.

I invite students and their families to learn more about the Charter Institute and the many tuition-free charter school options we offer from classical, virtual, traditional and dual enrollment, among others. The Institute is constantly learning and seeking to improve, offering best practices, academic support, and data-driven analyses to our schools. We are proud of our track record, the performance of our schools, and are committed to expanding our innovative approach to public school education in South Carolina."

Positive News About the Institute

Julianne Lang, school leader for the Lowcountry Leadership Charter School, wrote an op-ed published June 13, 2024, in the Post and Courier entitled “Commentary: Lowcountry school helps students succeed with Charter Institute at Erskine's help.” In her commentary, Lang expressed her appreciation for the Institute’s support of the school. She wrote “[r]ecently, we determined that our math scores could be improved. The Charter Institute at Erskine stepped in and provided us with key data, insights and professional development to help us provide our students with the appropriate support.”

She further noted that “[w]e are proud that our high school graduation rate has been 100% for the past two years. We will continue to promote dual enrollment, our honors program, challenging coursework and advanced placement courses. These successes the past five years are due in no small part to the leadership and support offered by the Charter Institute at Erskine. Its staff regularly visits and reviews assessment data with us. Institute leaders are highly regarded throughout the state for their consistent approach to professional development and support offered to their charter schools. We have experienced this firsthand and greatly appreciate the support shown to us and our students.”

On July 14, 2024, David Crook, CEO of the Cyber Academy of South Carolina, had an op-ed published in the Greenville News called “How Erskine's Charter Institute is raising 'global awareness' of S.C. students.” In his commentary, Crook discussed being part of a delegation of charter school leaders and teachers who visited their counterparts in London, England. Crook explained that the trip did not use any taxpayer funds and focused on “teaching methods, best practices, and strategies for boosting student achievement.” He concluded his commentary by writing “The Charter Institute at Erskine seeks to ‘move the needle.’ Providing high-quality education today transforms our youths into tomorrow’s leaders. Our teachers and school leaders are passionate about their work, dedicated to serving their students every day. We are grateful for this opportunity to learn from our English counterparts. We hope the Institute’s Education and Immersion Program continues to foster professional development and global awareness.”

On September 6, 2024, Dr. Lindsey Ott, school leader for Clear Dot Charter School, published an op-ed in The State newspaper called “South Carolina’s cellphone ban in classrooms is already working in our schools.” In discussing the recent State Board of Education decision to ban cell phones in classrooms during school hours, Ott noted “our teachers can see what a difference this policy change has made since we adopted it after the General Assembly required the ban in the current state budget."

Dr. Ott further said "Students are more engaged with their teachers and other students, developing stronger relationships in the classroom. With fewer distractions, we see better focus and deeper learning. We could not make this quick adjustment without support from families. Parents encouraging their children to follow our new rules is a big part of why this policy change has been so successful. By reinforcing the importance of this policy at home, families are directly contributing to a more focused and productive learning environment in school."

Dr. Ott wrote "At the same time, we as administrators understand parental safety concerns. At our school, we have a full-time school resource officer on campus who has developed good relationships with students. We have plans and procedures in place for different emergencies and regularly review and practice them. We provide all teachers with iPhones and radios, and are in constant communication throughout the school day. Parents also have concerns with bullying. We’ve discovered that cellphones make bullying worse because bullies can emotionally harass students who have ready access to their own cellphones. We cut that down dramatically when neither party can access phones during school hours. We have noticed fewer discipline issues with older students, and can implement conflict resolution processes to address disagreements between students."

Dr. Ott concluded "This compliance will improve school culture statewide as we reduce cyberbullying among peers within and across school districts. Additionally, being a charter school in the Charter Institute at Erskine school district means we can count on receiving the right support and technical assistance to ensure implementation of new policies.

Community Engagement

Annual Awards Banquet

The Institute hosts an annual awards banquet attended by nearly 500 people at the Columbia Convention Center. The 2023 banquet marked the Institute’s 5-year anniversary celebration. The Institute presents both teacher of the year and student of the year awards and special recognition for school staff members.

Institute Blog

The Institute maintains a blog to spread awareness about the positive impact charter schools are having across South Carolina.

Education and Immersion Program

The Institute implemented a new Education and Immersion Program in 2023, taking school leaders and teachers to Miami, to meet with high-performing charter school counterparts. The delegation learned about best practices for professional development and data-based analysis to improve student performance. The Institute also led a delegation to London in 2024. The purpose of that trip was to meet with charter leaders and educators and learn about their teaching methods, best practices, and strategies for increasing student achievement. The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2022 assessment results showed that 15-year-old students in England scored above the international average in mathematics, reading, and science. The delegation also met with elected officials in Parliament who support school choice. The delegation met teacher counterparts as well.

David Crook, school leader for the Cyber Academy of South Carolina, published an op-ed in the Greenville News providing more details about the delegation’s visit, “How Erskine’s Charter Institute is raising ‘global awareness’ of S.C. students.” In the op-ed, he notes that "[t]he Charter Institute at Erskine seeks to 'move the needle.' Providing high-quality education today transforms our youths into tomorrow’s leaders. Our teachers and school leaders are passionate about their work, dedicated to serving their students every day. We are grateful for this opportunity to learn from our English counterparts. We hope the Institute’s Education and Immersion Program continues to foster professional development and global awareness."

Kids First Conference

Until 2024, the Institute partnered with the South Carolina Public Charter School District (SCPCSD) to host a joint conference at the Columbia Convention Center, focusing on professional development for charter school board members and school leaders. The Kids First Conference was first held in 2021, the second annual conference in 2022, and the final conference occurred September 26-27, 2023. On the SCPCSD website, Institute Superintendent Runyan is quoted as saying “It was incredible to see our school leaders and Board members from around the state come together in this great learning environment while committing to always put Kids First across South Carolina.”

It was during this timeframe that the Institute overtook the SCPCSD as the largest charter school district in the state and became one of the fastest growing school districts in South Carolina.

At the start of the 2024-25 school year, the Institute oversaw nearly 26,000 students while the SCPCSD managed just over 18,000. As a result, the SCPCSD declined to co-host the Kids First Conference with the Institute and instead, developed its own “2024 Leaders Summit,” to be held for only one day, on October 29, 2024. This much smaller event was scheduled to take place at the SCPCSD’s office in downtown Columbia. The meeting was ostensibly the SCPCSD’s attempt to host a smaller professional development training for some of its own school leaders and board members. Following the Institute’s focus on innovation in charter school education, the SCPCSD also branded its summit with the theme “Insights to Innovation,” with a focus on “innovative strategies that put Kids First.”

Ambassador program

The Institute annually admits a handful of students to its prestigious ambassadorship program. Interested students submit an application and conduct a series of interviews with Institute leaders to gain admittance to the program. The Institute has 16 student ambassadors for the 2024-25 school year.

National School Choice Week

The Institute plays an active role each January, supporting National School Choice Week in South Carolina. The Institute partners with State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver and promotes school choice throughout the state. Governor Henry McMaster is a regular speaker at the annual rally at the statehouse every January and issued a proclamation on January 27, 2024, in recognition of the nationwide celebration.

National Charter School Awards

In 2022, the U.S. Department of Education named Brashier Middle College Charter School in Simpsonville as a National Blue Ribbon School, the only charter school in South Carolina that year to receive the coveted award. The Department of Education noted on its website in its award that "Brashier Middle College Charter High School, located in the upstate of South Carolina, builds a strong foundation for students in high school and prepares them for life beyond. Interpersonal relationships are key to Brashier's success. Academic expectations are high, and BMC provides a structured support system for all. Students take dual enrollment courses at the technical college on campus and experience college before high school graduation. Rigorous coursework coupled with strong, supportive relationships prepare students for their next steps in life."

Brashier Middle College Charter School belongs to the Charter Institute at Erskine school district.

In 2024, the U.S. Department of Education named Langston Charter Middle School as a National Blue Ribbon School. The school has consistently provided a high-quality education to students in grades 6, 7, and 8 through its unique single-sex education model, since its founding in 2005. The Department of Education noted on its website in its award "This approach is rooted in the understanding that boys' and girls' brains develop differently during the crucial middle school years. By creating separate learning environments, we tailor our teaching methods to the unique strengths of each sex, fostering a more focused and effective educational experience. In our boys' classrooms, we emphasize hands-on, active learning, aligning with their natural inclination for movement and spatial reasoning. Meanwhile, our girls' classrooms are designed to nurture collaborative skills and verbal expression, supporting their strong linguistic development. This approach allows our dedicated teachers to connect with students on a deeper level, enhancing their engagement and fostering a love of learning."

Langston Charter Middle School is also a school in the Charter Institute at Erskine school district.

Political Support

Governor Henry McMaster and State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver

The Lexington County Chronicle reported on August 16, 2023, that Governor Henry McMaster and State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver supported the launch of a new Institute school in Lexington, South Carolina. The article entitled “Patriotism-emphasizing Lexington charter school trumpeted by governor at welcome event,” stated that “Superintendent Ellen Weaver and Gov. Henry McMaster, both vocal school choice advocates, were among the speakers when the new Lexington location of American Leadership Academy, located off S. Lake Drive off Interstate 20, held a welcome event for the first group of families enrolling at the school on Aug. 10.”

“During his speech, McMaster told those in attendance that there is no better place in the whole world to live, work and raise a family than South Carolina, positioning schools like American Leadership Academy as key to keeping it that way. ‘This school has a good foundation,’ he said, pushing beyond earlier comments about the literal strong foundations of the recently constructed buildings on campus. ‘We are building a good foundation for our children. They will go astray. … One thing that I am delighted to hear that you will be emphasizing here with these children will be understanding is the Constitution of the United States, the Declaration of Independence. Be sure to tell your children this is the best place to be, and the future is theirs, because of institutions like this and leaders like those you’ve built.’”

The school has publicly set its intention to create a moral and wholesome learning environment, building from a foundation of patriotism and RAISE (Respect, Accountability, Integrity, Service, and Excellence) leadership values.

Superintendent Weaver said “You all are doing the most important work that could ever be done in preserving this America that we love, the greatest and freest nation on the face of the earth. And because of the students who are educated at this school, I have great hope for the future of South Carolina and for the future of America. I just want to take this opportunity, on behalf of the entire education community in South Carolina, to welcome you to the education family, the public education family, here in our state. When I listen to the values that you all are built on here at ALA, I can't help but think that this is what public education was always intended to be.”

Governor McMaster has been a strong advocate for charter schools in South Carolina. In a March 28, 2023, WACH Fox 57 article entitled “South Carolina governor encourages expansion of charter schools throughout state,” Institute Superintendent Cameron Runyan was quoted saying “Charter schools tend to be smaller and a very safe environment. These are schools where parents and children are choosing to be there to school of choice."

On April 14, 2021, the governor “announced a $10.5 million investment in South Carolina’s public charter schools and the state’s workforce development efforts through the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) fund.”

Governor McMaster also spoke at the launch of another Institute charter school, Belton Preparatory Academy, in Summerville, as reported by Live5 WCSC, in a story published August 12, 2021, “McMaster attends charter school ribbon cutting in Summerville, addresses masking in schools.”

SC State Senator Brad Hutto

South Carolina state senator Brad Hutto attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the new Willie Jeffries School of Excellence in Orangeburg, South Carolina, on June 25, 2024, according to an Institute press release.

SC Senator Greg Hembree

South Carolina state senator Greg Hembree was named a 2023 “Hall of Fame” Charter Champion at the joint Institute / SCPCSD Kids First Conference. He said during his acceptance speech “Charter schools in South Carolina and the rest of the country are the laboratories where we are going to learn the best way to teach our students as we go forward because it has changed, and it’s going to continue to change.”

Senator Hembree is the chairman of the Senate Education Committee and he also visited the South Carolina Virtual Charter School. Senator Hembree met with the school administration team, sat in on a virtual lesson by former Institute Teacher of the Year Julie Phillips, and discussed virtual education attending families.

Previous winners include South Carolina Speaker of the House, Murrell Smith, in 2022, and Governor McMaster in 2021.

U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos

Former U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos visited Belton Preparatory Academy, an Institute school, on October 27, 2020. Secretary DeVos singled out the charter school in part for its successful re-opening during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Deputy Secretary of Education and S.C. Superintendent of Education Dr. Mick Zais

Joining Secretary DeVos on the visit was Deputy Secretary of Education Mitchell “Mick” Zais, who was elected South Carolina State Superintendent of Education from 2010 to 2014. Dr. Zais previously served as president of Newberry College in South Carolina and retired from active-duty service in the Army as a brigadier general. State Superintendent of Education Molly M. Spearman (2014 to 2022) joined Secretary DeVos and Secretary Zais for a roundtable discussion.

Prior to COVID-19, Deputy Secretary Zais visited Gray Collegiate Academy in West Columbia, South Carolina, on November 19, 2021, according to an article from the Daily Cola entitled “U.S. Deputy Education Secretary Mick Zais visits Gray Collegiate in West Columbia.” The school’s logo is “it’s not college prep, it’s college.” Secretary Zais was quoted as saying “I've never seen a model like Gray Collegiate." Gray Collegiate is a public charter school with a split schedule. Students attend classes in either the morning or the afternoon. Gray also offers dual enrollment programs with USC Union and USC Lancaster that allow students to earn up to 60 college credits in high school.

Dr. Zais was one of the first statewide proponents urging the South Carolina General Assembly to expand the number of charter schools available for families, according to a March 15, 2012, WACH FOX 57 article, entitled 'Zais makes charter school bill 'top legislative priority.'