Columbia, S.C.— Sylvia Wright, Candidate for South Carolina State Superintendent of Education, released a comprehensive policy agenda to improve outcomes for students across the state, with a focus on early childhood education, fair accountability, teacher recruitment and retention, and special education reform.
Wright’s policy book, “Building South Carolina’s Future,” outlines a roadmap she says will “start earlier, measure what matters, support our teachers, and unlock every child’s potential.”
“South Carolina’s children cannot get back their early years, and they cannot afford another decade of fragmented programs and finger-pointing,” Wright said. The plan centers on four major initiatives.
I. Early Childhood Education – Building South Carolina’s Future
Wright calls for a comprehensive audit of state-funded early childhood and family support programs to identify gaps, overlaps, and wasted dollars. She proposes tying major investments to clear metrics connected to kindergarten readiness and third-grade reading, providing transparent public reporting on what works and where resources should be reallocated, and building a statewide coalition of families, educators, employers, and policymakers around early learning.
“Strategic early childhood investment is economic development policy,” Wright said. “If children aren’t ready for school, we all pay the price later.”
II. Testing, Accountability, and Student Growth – Measuring What Matters
Wright would make student growth a core measure in the state accountability system using existing assessments and combining growth and proficiency in school ratings so that schools helping students catch up are recognized. She would launch a public student growth and equity dashboard to give families clear, user-friendly information, and align state support with results through a tiered system of assistance based on need.
“Families deserve honest information, and educators deserve a fair, growth-focused system,” Wright said. “We will measure what matters and use that data to drive real support, not punishment.”
III. Teacher Recruitment and Retention – Strengthening the Teacher Workforce
The plan targets vacancies and turnover in hard-to-staff schools and subject areas, ties state recruitment and retention funds to clear district-level plans and measurable benchmarks, and calls for continuous evaluation of state strategies so resources can be shifted toward the most effective approaches.
“A strong, stable teacher workforce is the foundation of every other reform,” Wright said.
IV. Special Education Reform – Unlocking Every Child’s Potential
Wright proposes rebuilding special education around a coherent, birth-to-adulthood continuum of support and strengthening the state funding base under federal IDEA dollars so districts can focus on quality, not just compliance. She would improve coordination across agencies while reducing unnecessary bureaucracy and focus on real adult outcomes, including postsecondary education, workforce participation, and independent living.
“Too many families feel lost in the system, too many teachers feel overwhelmed, and too many districts feel they cannot afford what students need,” said Wright.
Across all four pillars, Wright emphasizes transparency, measurable results, and fiscal responsibility. New commitments will be phased in as the state budget allows, and federal funds will supplement not replace the state’s own investment.
“Every child in South Carolina deserves an education that prepares them for a meaningful life,” Wright added.
The full policy book, “Building South Carolina’s Future,” is available at wright2026sc.com.