This morning, potentially thousands of teachers, parents, + members of the community across South Carolina are taking the day off in order to march at the Statehouse for #AllOutMay1: A Day of Reflection.

Our team wanted to know more about what may become the largest teacher march in South Carolina history – so we did some digging into the issue, + broke it all down for you in a quick, easy-to-follow format.

Who’s behind #AllOutMay1?

This event was organized by the activist group S.C. for Ed. The organization was founded in May 2018 with the shared goal of improving public education in South Carolina. It has since grown to include more than 20,000+ members.

What are the participants marching for?

Provide better pay for teachers
Reduce class sizes
Remove misc. duties from teacher contracts to allow for uninterrupted planning time
Hire more mental health professionals in schools
Reduce the amount of standardized + district-mandated testing
A pledge from lawmakers to oppose for-profit charters schools + educational savings accounts

Why interrupt class?

Some critics – including S.C. education superintendent Molly Spearman, who says she’ll fill in today as a substitute teacher at an undisclosed Midlands school – have argued that teachers who are participating in the event are walking out on their obligations to students + families.

Supporters, on the other hand, argue that students are already suffering because of what they described as “poor legislation,” and that taking one day to advocate for improvements is “a small price to pay.”

By the numbers:

7. The number of S.C. school districts that (as of 5 p.m. Tuesday) announced they will be closed today due to the number of teachers taking off + the lack of substitute teachers available to fill in. Three of those districts – Richland One, Richland Two and Lexington-Richland 5 – are located in the Midlands.

2,700+. The number of people who have RSVP’d yes to the #AllOutMay1 Facebook event.

$33,148. The average starting salary for teachers in South Carolina, according to the National Education Association (NEA). That number falls more than $6,000 below the national average of $39,249, and is among the lowest in the country (only Missouri, Montana + Oklahoma have a lower average starting pay).

$35,000. The minimum teacher salary included in the current state budget proposal. That equates to a 4% raise – which S.C. for Ed calls “a step in the right direction.”

7,300. The number of S.C. teachers who left their jobs at or during the 2017-18 academic year, according to the South Carolina Annual Educator Supply and Demand Report. That number marks a 10% increase compared to the previous year. Of those teachers who left their jobs, only 27% quit in order to teach in another school district, while the remainder no longer teach in any S.C. public school.

73%. The rate by which teachers who leave the classroom has grown since the 2011-2019 school year.

1,650. The number of students who graduated with a bachelor’s degree eligible for teacher certification in 2017-18, according to data from the S.C. Commission on Higher Education. That number is down 32% compared to 2012-13.

84 pages. The length of a legislative proposal that would overhaul the state’s education system. The bill was approved by the House, then sent to the state Senate, where it has since stalled.

Poll

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