COLUMBIA, S.C. — A new state program is helping South Carolina teachers get rewarded for their students’ success, but its future isn’t guaranteed.

The South Carolina Department of Education handed out nearly $5 million in Strategic Compensation Grants this year, the first round of grants to be awarded from the pilot program, which was established in the 2024-2025 school year through a budget proviso .

The General Assembly gave the Department of Education the money to reward teachers whose students improve on standardized tests or interim assessments. But the program’s future is still uncertain.

On Monday, state education officials honored the recipients at Seven Oaks Elementary School, which led the state with the most money awarded for compensation grants. The school received more th

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