Professional development is focused on state standards and the inadequate new state assessments. The support in performance assessment and the planned trainings in using the WSS and PLAS are positive. Educators should be surveyed about their professional development needs. Print and video materials are available to parents and policymakers. A statewide newspaper supplement was recently disseminated to parents explaining the new system.
Public education appears adequate.
We did not receive information about reporting. We did not receive information about the review processes in South Carolina, and a new system is being introduced. A strong review system should be part of the new assessment system. The impact of the readiness and writing tests, as well as the new exams, on curriculum, instruction and placement should be reviewed. South Carolina responded by telephone to parts of the short FairTest survey.