A bill moving through the South Carolina legislature aims to help ease the state’s teacher shortage by offering salary incentives to professionals who switch careers into teaching.
The proposal would allow relevant work experience outside the classroom—such as in a lab, business, or trade—to count toward teacher salary placement. Under the plan, two years of professional experience would equal one year of classroom teaching for pay purposes. For example, someone with 10 years of industry experience could start at the same salary as a teacher with five years in the classroom.
The bill is designed to attract professionals into high-need subjects like science, technology, and career education, where real-world knowledge can be especially valuable.
Lawmakers say this would make South Carolina more competitive with neighboring North Carolina, which already has a similar policy. Georgia, by contrast, does not.
The bill also proposes that time spent working as a teacher’s aide or paraprofessional count one-to-one toward salary if the person later becomes a certified teacher.
While the credited experience would not apply to pensions or health benefits, supporters say the higher starting salaries could help bring in skilled educators quickly. The legislation is nearing final approval, after a similar version stalled last year. Education leaders are calling it a top priority for the state.
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