South Carolina considers joining interstate compact to address teacher vacancies
Palmetto Promise Director of Education Policy Ryan Dellinger recently joined WIS10 reporter Stephen Biddix virtually to discuss a bill that would opt South Carolina in to the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact. To watch their video coverage, check out the original article here.
Columbia, S.C. (WIS10): As school districts across South Carolina continue to grapple with teacher shortages, state lawmakers are advancing legislation they say could help fill classrooms more quickly.
The proposal would add South Carolina to an interstate teacher mobility compact, allowing licensed teachers from participating states to begin teaching in South Carolina without facing lengthy certification delays.
Supporters of the bill say it could help address staffing gaps as the state’s population — and student enrollment — continues to grow.
If adopted, the compact would allow teachers who are already licensed in another member state to transfer their credentials to South Carolina, provided they meet the state’s requirements.
South Carolina Education Association President Dena R. Crews said the measure would streamline the hiring process for experienced educators.
“Many of them have been teaching for a number of years, so to have to go through another process to show that they’re qualified to teach was really a waste of time,” Crews said.
The compact currently includes about a dozen states.
Ryan Dellinger, director of education policy at the Palmetto Promise Institute, said South Carolina is already struggling to fill classroom positions. Data from the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention and Advancement show vacancies have improved from recent years, but more than 700 teaching positions remained unfilled statewide, heading into the 2025-2026 school year.
“If we ease this licensure burden for teachers looking to move from these other compact states, it makes us an incredibly competitive place when they’re looking to decide where to live,” Dellinger said.
Under the legislation, South Carolina would retain control over its licensing standards and could deny applicants who fail to meet state requirements.
“The states decide what licenses and certifications they want to offer for equivalency,” Dellinger said. “The states decide what licenses and certifications they want to offer for equivalency, so if South Carolina doesn’t want K-5 teachers coming from other states and want them to be homegrown… South Carolina has the power to do that.”
However, some lawmakers have voiced concerns about the compact’s long-term implications.
Republican Rep. Stephen Frank of Greenville said he worries some participating states require diversity, equity and inclusion training as part of teacher certification. He also expressed concern that the compact’s governing commission could eventually push for uniform licensing standards that conflict with South Carolina’s policies.
“There’s nothing prohibiting this commission from saying let’s have some more uniformity, and now, as part of our rules, member states will include so many hours of DEI or gender‑affirming cares.”
South Carolina already participates in similar interstate compacts, including one for nurses.
The bill has cleared committee and now heads to the full House for consideration.
