School Improvement Council
The vision of the SC School Improvement Council is:
"To promote and support civic engagement for quality public education in South Carolina.”
The mission of the SC School Improvement Council is:
"To facilitate meaningful parent and community involvement in our state’s public schools by providing resources, tools and strategies to local School Improvement Councils and other stakeholder groups."
Key Points
- The School Improvement Council (SIC) serves as an advisory committee to a school's principal and faculty.
- Unlike PTA/Os and other voluntary school organizations, councils are mandated by law to exist in every public school in South Carolina.
- SICs play a key role in the education of our state's children, bringing together parents, educators, and community stakeholders to work collectively to improve their local schools.
- More than 16,000 people serve on SICs in South Carolina.
What do SICs do?
SIC duties focus primarily on the school improvement process. SICs:
- provide input and feedback during the development of the school's five-year renewal (improvement) plan and annual updates;
- assist in implementation of school improvement programs and activities;
- monitor and report on progress toward improvement goals in the annual SIC Report to the Parents and with the principal in the narrative to the SC School Report Card;
- provide other assistance as requested by the principal.
How Many Members Must an SIC Have?
The number of each type of SIC member should be listed in the SIC's bylaws. State law requires that an SIC must have at least the following number of members: Primary, Elementary, and Middle School SICs:
●at least two elected parents;
●at least two elected teachers;
●half as many appointed community members as the total number of elected members;
●at least one ex-officio position for the current school principal.
Who is Eligible to Serve as a Teacher Representative?
Any teacher who is currently assigned to the school is eligible to serve for as long as he/she remains assigned to the school. Teachers may nominate themselves or be nominated by a fellow teacher at the school.
SIC Student Elections Who is Eligible to Serve as a Student Representative?
Any student may serve as an SIC representative for as long as he/she is enrolled in school and attending classes. An individual who is no longer enrolled as a student in the school may not continue to serve as a student representative, even if the individual has not completed his/her two-year term.
What are the limitations on an SICs' authority?
SICs are advisory only. They do not have any of the powers and duties reserved for the local school board, district, or school administrators, teachers, and staff.
How are SIC parent representatives chosen?
Parents are nominated and elected by the parents at their child's school. State law requires that parent elections be held by October 15 each year.
How are SIC teacher representatives chosen?
Teachers are nominated and elected by teachers at their school. State law requires that teacher elections be held by October 15 each year.
How are SIC student representatives chosen?
Students elect student representatives in schools serving grade 9 or higher. State law requires that student elections also be held by October 15 each year. Elementary and middle school SICs may include student representatives on the SIC if they choose to do so.
How are community member representatives chosen?
The school principal appoints community member representatives to the SIC. Interested community members should contact the school principal or SIC Chair for more details.
What leadership does an SIC have?
Each SIC elects its own officers annually – a Chair, a Vice Chair or Co-Chair, and a Secretary. As SICs are not intended to (and should not) hold funds, there is no office of Treasurer. It is the responsibility of the elected SIC Chair to preside over SIC meetings and to work with the principal to develop meeting agendas.