South Carolina’s loan program is failing to retain teachers: Here's why

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) - A South Carolina program designed to help the state's teacher shortage and promote teacher retention isn’t working, according to a new report from the South Carolina Education Oversight Committee.

The South Carolina Teacher Loan Program (TLP) got its start in 1984, and was created to encourage students to become teachers.

In exchange for teaching in state public schools for a certain number of years, recipients can have their loans forgiven.

"We're trying to figure out exactly why that is happening, why teachers aren't making it into the classroom," explained Tenell Felder, the communications manager for the Education Oversight Committee.

According to program guidelines, for every year of undergraduate schooling, one has to work a year as a teacher in South Caro