Diverse Pathways in Teacher Preparation:
A Collaborative Approach for South Carolina Two- & Four-Year Colleges

The Pathways Project is supported by a $4.7 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Education Teacher Quality Enhancement Partnership Grants. The primary goal is the development of a highly qualified teaching force that reflects the diversity of the state’s population.

PARTNERS: University of South Carolina - Columbia; the College of Charleston; Midlands Technical College; Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College; Trident Technical College; Richland School District One; Charleston County Schools; the BellSouth Corporation; and CERRA - the SC Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention and Advancement.

Goal I: Curriculum Articulation with Liberal Arts and Sciences Associate Degrees and Teacher Education Degrees

Goal II: Student Recruitment, Advisement, and Support on Two- and Four-Year Campus Sites

Goal III: Development of Clinical Sites for Experiences offered to Two-Year College Students

Goal IV: Program to Support Beginning Teachers During their Induction Years

A Professional Learning Community will support students progressing from pre-college recruitment, to their initial entry into two-year colleges, through the completion of certification requirements, and into their induction into the teaching profession.

Year 1 of the project will involve a “proof-of-concept” phase, involving the Columbia area partnership led by the USC teacher preparation program that was enhanced by support from a previous Teacher Quality Enhancement grant. P-12 schools will be selected to host clinical experiences for students in the 2-year colleges and project staff will work to support professional development activities in those schools.

Year 2 will expand the project into a parallel partnership in the Charleston area to pursue activities proven successful in year one.

Years 3 through 5 extend collaboration with the South Carolina Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education to help disseminate information and provide training for developing similar programs in other two- and four-year institutions across the state.