COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) – Many teachers don’t know where they will be teaching or how much they will be paid each year, which is worrying for them, students and their parents.

“It’s a universal problem, there are certain core elements of teacher working conditions that are necessary to recruit retain teachers in all areas, across all subjects,” said Patrick Kelly, Palmetto State Teacher’s Association.

Last week the South Carolina House of Representatives unanimously passed the Educator Assistance Act, which improves teachers work life and gives them more flexibility in their contracts.

One of the bill’s goals is to address the teacher shortage in the state.

The bill was passed in the House four times last session, but was never debated in the Senate.
Member of the House, Education Committee Representative Kambrell Garvin (D-District 77) said the committee worked aggressively with members of the house to get this passed early, so that the senate has more than enough time to speak on it.

“It wasn’t a Democrat bill or a Republican bill, it was a good bill for the people of South Carolina, the teachers of South Carolina and we recognize that when our teachers do well, our students will do well,” Garvin said.

Garvin said this bill will also benefit students and their parents.

“We have seen our teachers leave the classroom in mass exodus and we know that that disadvantages families because when you have schools that are filled with inexperienced teachers, some of that institutional knowledge is lost,” Garvin said.

Kelly said this bill is crucial, and urges the Senate to get this bill onto the governor’s desk.

“Every policy in this bill addresses a real situation that’s been experienced by teachers in South Carolina. Now, not every district is going to have these experiences,” Kelly said. “Some districts are already, basically, engaging in best practices in advance but every policy addresses a real issue that’s been faced by a teacher.”

Senator Greg Hembree, Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, said his committee looks forward to discussing the bill further.

Kelly said when the Palmetto State Teacher’s Association polled their members, this was the first time in years that work conditions were more important to the majority of them, over teacher pay.