New SC Law gives teachers credit for work experience outside classroom

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) – Teachers in South Carolina may soon see bigger paychecks not just for time in the classroom, but for experience outside of it.

The South Carolina Department of Education will now reward real-world experience for teachers who’ve worked in jobs related to the subjects they teach, even if that experience came before they entered the classroom.

If someone worked a job like construction, healthcare, or business, and now they teach a related subject, they will get credit for that experience. If you’ve worked full-time in a job that’s related to teaching, then for every two years you worked, it could count as one year of teaching experience. This is all to help decide your pay level as a teacher.

“It’s going to cost, you know, cost the state a little bit of money, but at the same time, you know, those are your experienced teachers that not only have the teaching experience, they have the life experience. You know, they have the practical experience, and that’s something that’s so valuable,” said main sponsor, Senator Greg Hembree (R – Horry).

Hembree said this bill is crucial to retaining teachers in the state, and that’s a priority.

“The purpose behind it is recruitment retention. I mean, that’s what we’re you know, that’s one of the you know, if you want to think of kind of the foundational blocks of what we’re doing,” Hembree added.

Patrick Kelly with the Palmetto State Teachers’ Association said one of the greatest teachers he ever worked with used his previous career to benefit students.

“He had worked as an executive chef in restaurants, and what he brought into his classroom was simply something you could not have replicated simply by having completed coursework or read books. Individuals like him are a huge win for students,” Kelly said.

Hembree added that this new law is invaluable for students.

“You don’t think it’s important to you, but let me explain how it can be important, and, or whatever it might be, you know, whatever the subject might be. So, you know, I think those teachers have a best, you know, kind of have an extra bit of experience that I think is really valuable to our students,” Hembree said.

“That real-world experience is simply irreplaceable to share with students,” Kelly agreed.

The teacher pay raises apply for the next school year, and there’s no back pay, and this doesn’t count for retirement or benefits; it’s just to help move up the pay ladder.

The Department of Education now has six months to roll out a form that teachers can use to prove their past work experience.