It’s been over 300 years since the colony of Carolina was officially divided, establishing distinct North and South Carolina colonies. Today, as separate states, the two share plenty of differences across politics, government, and culture. But when it comes to education, both have something deeply important in common: the need to improve student achievement and classroom success.
In terms of reading proficiency, the percentage of eighth-grade students in North Carolina deemed “on track to be prepared for career and college” declined by nearly 15 points from 2018-19 to 2022-23. Similarly, math performance saw a nearly seven-point drop over the same period. While year-over-year achievement is improving, math and reading rates sit far behind their pre-COVID levels.
In South Carolina, the situation is even more urgent. Just over half of eighth graders meet or exceed expectations in English and Language Arts, according to recent state testing data, while less than one third meet or exceed expectations in math. The average state SAT score, meanwhile, lags 20 points behind the national average.
Facing these education challenges requires bold, collaborative action. It’s for this reason that the Carolinas Academic Leadership Network (CALN) was formed.
To read the full article on Carolina Journal, click here.