South Carolina’s annual school report cards have been delayed for the second year in a row, a decision that has caused significant frustration among state education leaders, school districts, and parents. Due to technical issues and the switch to a new assessment system, the comprehensive data on school performance from the last academic year is not expected until early 2026.
The report cards are mandated under federal law and provide the public with the most important measure of school quality, including student test scores, growth rates, and an overall school rating. The continuous postponement means districts will miss the standard fall release deadline, making the data less useful for planning the current school year.
The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) confirms the delay is due to the complex process of validating and linking multiple data sources across state and local systems. New federal requirements for factoring in data on English Language Learners and students with disabilities also contributed to the technical review time. The SCDE is seeking an extension from the U.S. Department of Education.
However, many state and local officials believe the recurrent delays point to a failure in state-level project management. When the crucial reports arrive months late, often in February, the data becomes historical rather than actionable. This makes it challenging for administrators to adjust curricula, target resources, and for the legislature to effectively hold schools accountable.
Education leaders and parents alike are pushing for the SCDE to streamline its processes to ensure the critical school performance data is delivered in a timely manner.
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