Public Education Media Coverage Archive 2006-2020

October 2020

Quality Counts, a Spartanburg First Steps program, received the 2020 Dick and Tunky Riley WhatWorksSC Award during a virtual celebration of South Carolina public education presented by Furman University’s Riley Institute on October 6. Read more

September 2020

The White-Riley-Peterson Policy Fellowship reaches a new milestone with fellows in every state.

The Riley Institute at Furman University has selected 16 leaders in the field of afterschool and expanded learning to participate in the White-Riley-Peterson (WRP) Policy Fellowship. In its ninth year, the program gained a fellow from its 50th state, Delaware, and is now 137 fellows strong.

Due to COVID-19, the new class of WRP Fellows will participate in an entirely virtual program for the first time in the fellowship’s history. While the annual kickoff cannot be held in person this year, former U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley says the value of afterschool and expanded learning programs is as clear as ever. Read more

April 2020

Emerging Public Leaders (EPL) 2019-20 winners and awards announced. Furman News

November 2019

Journal of Montessori Research, Fall 2019, by David Fleming, PhD, Brooke Culclasure, PhD, and Daniel Zhang, Georgetown University (former intern with the Riley Institute). Click here for the research document.

October 2019

The Riley Institute and SCETV Expand Partnership to produce in-depth stories on public education, civic leadership and conversations with state, national and global policy leaders. Furman News

Sixteen leaders, in the field of afterschool and expanded learning, have been selected to participate in the 2019-20 White-Riley-Peterson (WRP) Policy Fellowship. “I am so proud to welcome 16 more leaders to this outstanding program,” said former U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley. “It is so important for young people to have access to high-quality academic enrichment opportunities during afterschool hours and in the summer – and we need policy leaders who can make that happen.” Furman University Press Release

Montessori in South Carolina: Authentic or Not? by Brooke Culclasure, PhD and Ginny Riga, EdD. Read more

September 2019

The Riley Institute announced the three finalists for the 2019 Dick and Tunky Riley WhatWorksSC Award, which celebrates promising education initiatives that are improving outcomes for South Carolina’s students. Furman News

June 2019

Bayan Abunijem, an Emerging Public Leaders (EPL) participant 2018-19 and a senior at Greenville Tech Charter High School in Greenville, has organized a self-defense workshop to help lower domestic violence rates in South Carolina. Read more

Blanton Newman, an Emerging Public Leaders (EPL) participant 2018-19 and a senior at J.L. Mann High School in Greenville, has organized a “Festival of Friendship” to bring together the “abled” and “differently abled” in our community. Read more

Winners and awards of the 2018-19 EPL class are announced. Read more

April 2019

The Riley Institute at Furman University has received a $310,000 grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation for its White-Riley-Peterson (WRP) Policy Fellowship program. Furman News

A Public School Makes the Case for ‘Montessori for All. eduTopia; to view the video included in this article, click here.

March 2019

Are Montessori schools a good idea for your kid? The Post and Courier

November 2018

South Carolina’s public Montessori programs can bridge achievement gap by Drs. Brooke Culclasure and David Fleming. Read more.

September 2018

Riley Institute announces finalists for the Dick and Tunky Riley WhatWorksSC Award. Furman University Press Release

August 2018

Riley Institute announces afterschool and expanded learning policy fellows 2018-19. Upstate Biz

March 2018

Inspiration… Where Philanthropy Begins. Since the late 1990s, the Self Family Foundation has made grants to support the expansion of Montessori classrooms throughout the state’s public schools. Now, the foundation has also funded a five-year evaluation of its work. The recently published results – from a study conducted by the Riley Institute at Furman University (the study is available online at furman.edu/Montessori) – show that children in South Carolina’s public Montessori classrooms outperform their peers on state standardized tests, demonstrate higher levels of creativity, have higher school attendance, and fewer disciplinary incidents.To read this article in its entirety, click here.

2017-18 Emerging Public Leaders award winners. Furman University Press Release

January 2018

Study shows SC Montessori students outperform their peers. Index-Journal

New South Carolina Study of Public Montessori Schools Shows Majority Low-Income Students Outperforming Peers. The 74

Landmark Study Finds Positive Impact of Public Montessori Programs in S.C. The study is available online at furman.edu/Montessori. To read Furman’s Press Release in its entirety, click here.

Does a Montessori Model Work in Public Schools? Ask South Carolina. Education Week

October 2017

Riley Institute Announces Winner of Dick and Tunky Riley WhatWorksSC Award. Furman University Press Release

Not your daddy’s schools: How these innovators are transforming SC classrooms by Richard W. Riley and special to the State’s Editorial Board. All around South Carolina, remarkable things are happening in public schools. The seventh annual Dick & Tunky Riley What WorksSC Award for Excellence, a celebration of what works in education, was held at Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, Columbia, SC on Tuesday, October 24, 2017. The State

Finalists announced for the seventh annual Dick & Tunky Riley What WorksSC Award for Excellence, a celebration of what works in education, was held at Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, Columbia, SC on Tuesday, October 24, 2017. Furman University Press Release, Greenville Journal

June 2017

Building on New Tech’s Success. The Press and Standard

Cougar New Tech holds Senior Dinner. The Press and Standard

April 2017

Scott’s Branch makes U.S. News and World Report Best Schools list for 3rd year in a row. Manninglive

February 2017

Education leaders ‘blown away’ by Scott’s Branch students. Manninglive

The Colleton County School District hosted a Lunch and Learn Tuesday, February 14, at Colleton County High School during which future plans were unveiled for Cougar New Tech Entrepreneurial Academy (CNT), the Health Science Academy at CCHS and additional project-based learning within the district. The Press and Standard

Colleton County High School’s Cougar New Tech was cited as a “corridor of innovation” when 28 top education policy leaders, practitioners and researchers from across the country visited as part of a study tour on Friday Feb. 3. The Press and Standard 

All eyes were recently on representatives from Colleton County’s New Tech Academy as the group was part of a statewide study on how students in poor parts of the state are working to better themselves. The Colletonian

South Carolina Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman visited Colleton County last week, meeting with students at two local schools. The Colletonian

January 2017

Dr. Melissa Crosby, principal of Colleton County High School and Joshua Cable, director of Cougar New Tech Entrepreneurial Academy, traveled to Los Angeles, Calif., over the weekend to present “Designing and Advocating for Personalized Learning Strategies” at the Teacher-Powered Schools 2017 National Conference held at the UCLA Meyer and Renee Luskin Conference Center. The Press and Standard

November 2016

Jessica Cole, Emerging Public Leaders 2016-17 from Chapin High School, Chapin, SC, is trying to get kids to read again. She passed out 1,000 books to third graders at Newberry’s Gallman Elementary School. Her goal is to encourage kids to read both at school and at home. Read more (pdf format) and a link to the video.

For Thanksgiving 2016, Jeremiah Drummond wanted to give people eating at the Spartanburg Soup Kitchen a Thanksgiving they would remember. He also plans to return to the Soup Kitchen at Christmas this year. Jeremiah was a participant of the Emerging Public Leaders program 2015-16 and is continuing his project. Read more about his story: WSPA.com, WYFF 4

Read about Dipali Patel, Emerging Public Leaders 2016-17 from Colleton County High School, Walterboro, SC, and her Emerging Public Leaders project. WalterboroLIVE.com

Cougar New Tech Annual Trust Day on November 8, 2016. The Colletonian

October 2016

Engaging Creative Minds Looks to the Future of Local Arts Education with Two Prestigious Awards. On October 14, 2016, Engaging Creative Minds was a finalist for the Dick and Tunky Riley WhatWorksSC Award 2016. Moultrie News

Nine Greenville County Teachers are First to Earn Project-Based Learning Credential. GSA BizWire.com

August 2016

Cougar New Tech teacher Laura Clark named CCSD Teacher of the Year for 2016-17. The Press and Standard

June 2016

Scott’s Branch holds STEM showcase. ManningLive

May 2016

School to School Learning: Leveraging the Larger Network for Improvement. Read more.

Scott’s Branch student, Brianna Brunson, who participated in the Emerging Public Leaders program 2015-16, was recognized by Furman University for her service project. She organized volunteers to visit nursing homes and spend time with elderly Summerton residents during the holidays. Brunson’s project also included collecting personal hygiene items for lower-income senior residents and spending time with seniors who were in the hospital. Manninglive

Cougar New Tech Student Acceptance Day. The Colletonian

April 2016

New Tech Network (NTN) announced today that Cougar New Tech Entrepreneurial Academy (CNT) was selected as a National Demonstration Site in the New Tech Network (NTN). CNT epitomized the best example of the New Tech mission – to help students gain the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in life, college and the careers of tomorrow. Read more

Read about the Spring Emerging Public Leaders award winners, Greer Today

February 2016

‘New tech’ program has Colleton school looking to cast off low-performing past. Read more; article with video.

December 2015

Jeremiah Drummond, a student at Paul Dorman High School in Spartanburg, combined his passion for photography with his passion to give back to society for his Emerging Public Leaders‘ service project. He spent two days using a corner of the dining room at the Spartanburg soup kitchen as a temporary studio and taking pictures for people who otherwise might not be able to buy a photo for the holidays. Click here to read more about his project. Jeremiah’s story appeared in the following: Savannah Morning News, Aiken Standard, Bluffton Today, SCNow, Washington Times, Deseret News, News 13, Daily Reporter, The Republic, Daily Journal.

Mauldin High senior, Celine Crum, paints a mural at Mauldin Cultural Center for her Emerging Public Leaders‘ service project. Click here to read more about her project.  Greenville News; Greenville News

November 2015

Cougar New Tech was recently featured on the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s American Graduate: Let’s Make It Happen program. To watch the video that details one of South Carolina’s New Tech schools, part of the federal Investing in Innovation (i3) grant project undertaken by KnowledgeWorks and the Riley Institute, click here.

New Tech students score perfect 100s. The Press and Standard

September 2015

Furman University’s Riley Institute and South Carolina Future Minds have announced the finalists for the 2015 Dick and Tunky Riley WhatWorksSC Award for Excellence. Read more

August 2015

SC superintendent to headline Montessori education summit at Lander. Index-Journal

July 2015

Fifteen leaders in the field of afterschool and expanded learning nationwide have been selected as White-Riley-Peterson Policy Fellows as part of a partnership between the Riley Institute at Furman University and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. The C.S. Mott Foundation has extended its funding for the program with a two-year renewal grant totaling $280,000. To read this press release in its entirety, click here. To visit the White-Riley-Peterson Policy Fellows page, click here.

June 2015

Riley Institute Driving Social and Economic Progress. Read more

Education professionals selected to study and develop afterschool and expanded learning policy. Fifteen leaders in the field of afterschool and expanded learning nationwide have been selected as White-Riley-Peterson Policy Fellows 2015-16 as part of a partnership between the Riley Institute at Furman University and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. Furman’s Press Release; UpstatebizSC

April 2015

New program (NewTech) expanding at J.L. Mann High School. Read More

Final exams approaching at Couger New Tech. The Colletonian

Students at Cougar New Tech are working on a project to help the homeless in Colleton County. Colletontoday

New program expanding at J.L. Mann High School. Fox Carolina

Cougar New Tech tackles big topics. The Colletonian

March 2015

The end of the third nine weeks is approaching quickly in Cougar New Tech, and the current projects are wrapping up neatly for both sophomores and freshmen. The Colletonian

TransformSC Schools Share Early Results UpstateBizSC

Colleton County High School’s Cougar New Tech Entrepreneurial Academy was featured Monday in TransformSC’s statewide conference on innovative approaches to education. Colletontoday

New Tech Leaders at TransformSC conference. Colletontoday

February 2015

On February 23, 2013, Richard W. Riley, former Governor of South Carolina and U.S. Secretary of Education spoke on House Education Policy Review and the Reform Task Force. To read his speech in its entirety, click here.

Cougar New Tech is hosting its second annual expo on February 26th. The Colletonian

Cougar New Tech Entrepreneurial Academy hosted its second annual Student Expo on Thursday, February 26. The Colletonian

New Tech students show off their achievements at CNT Expo. Colletontoday

January 2015

Emerging Public Leaders student Brittany Joyce, a senior in Hartsville High School’s International Baccalaureate program, has developed Project PERK, or Police Encouraging Responsibility and Kindness, a program offering gift certificate rewards to students when law enforcement and school resource officers find them making commendable decisions and actions. Read more . . .

December 2014

Lexington School District Two jumped into the TransformSC movement this year with its own i2Tech program. Read more

ETV spotlights Cougar New Tech, Head Start migrant center. The Press & Standard, Colletontoday

This Christmas, the Young Agents of Change wanted to do more than deck the halls. Instead, the New Tech students wanted to give back. The Colletonian

November 2014

Meadow Glen Middle School student wins inaugural ‘Gator Apprentice’ contest (Melody Shafer, Teachers of Government 2014 participant, and Katie Hamilton put together this real-world skills contest over the summer). ColaDaily

October 2014

From the halls…Kites are flying in GeoArt. The Colletonian

September 2014

$3 Million Dollar Grant to Help Combat School Dropouts, The Greenville News

$3 Million Dollar Grant to Fight Dropouts, The Charlotte Observer

August 2014

Students at J.L. Mann take to tech on the first day of school as they pioneer a new way of learning. The Greenville News

Colleton County High School to welcome first class of Cougar New Tech. Colletontoday

Colleton County’s New Tech program is continuing to move forward in its innovative approach to education. The Colletonian

2 New Tech high schools to open in Greenville. The Greenville News

July 2014

Cougar New Tech goes to New Orleans for national conference. The Press and Standard, Colletontoday

June 2014

Cougar New Tech names Teacher of the Year. The Colletonian

May 2014

New Tech schools to expand to 6 more counties. Statehouse Report

February 2014

New approach to learning in New Tech: Colleton County’s New Tech program moving forward in its innovative approach to education. The Colletonian

Mann, Carolina highs to start New Tech program this fall. The Greenville News

October 2013

Chester Park Elementary School of Inquiry received the first place honor in the third annual Dick and Tunky Riley WhatWorksSC Award for Excellence. The News and Reporter

White-Riley-Peterson Fellowship: demystifying the policy process for afterschool educators by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. Read more

New education model could revolutionize classrooms statewide, experts say. Greenville Journal

September 2013

High-tech teamwork rules at two SC high schools. The State

Will New Tech save education in South Carolina? The Post and Courier

Duncan Chapel Elementary program is a semifinalist for the 2013 Dick and Tunky Riley WhatWorksSC Award. Travelers Rest Tribune

The Riley Institute at Furman and South Carolina Future Minds have announced the ten semifinalists for the Third Annual Dick and Tunky Riley WhatWorksSC Award for Excellence. Furman News Release, UpstateBizSC

August 2013

Freshmen starting at Scott’s Branch High School this fall are going to get a different approach to learning, and it’s not just because they are leaving middle school. The Clarendon School District 1 school is one of two in the state selected to be a New Tech school. The Item
South Carolina today opened its first two New Tech Network high schools, including one in a community that holds a historic place in U.S. civil rights history. Read more; San Francisco Chronicle
NEW TECH – A step forward into a new era of learning. The Colletonian
The future of education is coming to Colleton County High School, and it’ll be the Cougar New Tech Entrepreneurial Academy that ushers it in. Colleton Today 

July 2013

Scott’s Branch High School will become a New Tech Network Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) School starting with the freshman class in the 2013-2014 school year, which begins August 19, 2013. Clarendon Citizen.

June 2013

The Riley Institute at Furman University has graduated its first crop of White-Riley-Peterson Policy Fellows Read more

May 2013

Secretary Riley’s granddaughter, Martha Riley Smith, receives a letter of praise for her exemplary teaching,  Read more

February 2013

Lucille Fleming, Scott’s Branch Middle-High School (SBHS) math teacher for four decades, said that she is looking forward to SBHS becoming a New Tech School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) School starting with the incoming 2013 freshman class. Clarendon Citizen

“New Tech is an excellent avenue to better prepare students for our global society,” said Dr. Rose Wilder, superintendent of Clarendon District 1 schools in Summerton, S.C.

Read more: The Anson Record – Anson New Tech serves as model for other schools

October 2012

The Riley Institute at Furman and South Carolina Future Minds announced the winner of the second annual Dick and Tunky Riley WhatWorksSCSM Award for Excellence. UpstateBizSC

August 2012

Students and staff to “hit the ground running in Clarendon 1 schools. Scott’s Branch Middle-High School Principal Gwendolyn Harris is focused on helping her students soar, though the combined school’s individual theme is “I Believe.”  The Item

July 2012

Riley Institute at Furman selects first class of White-RileyPeterson Policy Fellowship. UpstateBizSC

The Self Family Foundation of Greenwood wants to better understand the impact of Montessori education in the Palmetto State’s public schools and has launched the state’s first comprehensive, five-year research study aimed at exploring that issue. The Riley Institute’s Center for Education Policy and Leadership at Furman University will be doing the five-year study.  The Post and Courier

April 2012

The Riley Institute at Furman University has been awarded a $370,000 grant from the Self Family Foundation of Greenwood to study the impact of Montessori education on public schools in South Carolina.

Furman University press release, click here; Public School Montessorian

March 2012

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan visits Scott’s Branch High School. For more information about i3: New Tech High Schools, click here.  Press Coverage: GoUpstate, Associated Press

The Riley Institute was awarded a $200,000 grant from the Mott Foundation to establish the Whte-Riley-Peterson Policy Fellowship, which will bring educators together with the goal of developing national policy leaders for afterschool and expanded learning opportunities. For the full press release click here; for more information about the White-Riley-Peterson Policy Fellowship, click here.  Other press coverage: UpstateBizSC, The Greenville News

“This is the hottest thing going in education today in the United States and you are all part of it,” former South Carolina Governor and U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley said to community members gathered in Clarendon and Walterboro counties. The recent events marked the start of the implementation of the revolutionary New Tech Schools approach at Scott’s Branch High School in Summerton and Colleton County High School in Walterboro. For more information about i3: New Tech High Schools, click here. Press Coverage: The Sumter Item, The Post and Courier, Clarendon Citizen, MidlandsConnect, The Post and Courier, PRWeb 

Wilson High School IB student Aryana Derakhshan, a 2011-12 Emerging Public Leaders participant, collected more than 7,000 pounds of food by organizing the Peanut Butter and Jelly Drive to benefit Harvest Hope Food Bank. Read more about her community project in the Pee Dee News SCnow.com.

January 2012

Russ Diesinger, who participated in the Teachers of Government program in 2005, is running for the 130th Legislative District of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Read more . . .

October 2011

The first Annual Dick and Tunky Riley WhatWorksSCsm Award for Excellence was held at the SC Archives and History Center Columbia, SC on October 26, 2011. For information on the winners, click here. To view the media coverage, click on the respective links.

Pre-Event Press Coverage:  The State, Washington Examiner, News 4, Charleston, SC, Aiken Standard, Charlotte Observer, Fox Carolina, Greenville, SC (this story hit a number of outlets, and this is a sampling)

Post-Event Press Coverage: Lake Wylie Pilot, The Post and Courier, CERRA, Education Week Teacher, The Republic

June 2011

“Democracy thrives when communities work together to build public interest in education.”  Read Richard W. Riley’s article on “Civic Investment and the ‘Skyboxing’ of Education.”  Education Week 

WhatWorksSC: Making Education More Individualized for students. The final paper, case study and clearinghouse are now available!  Furman University Press Release; UpstateBizSC

March 2011

“Turning the Page on the Equity Debate in Education.  How to Give All Children a Real Opportunity” by Richard W. Riley and Arthur L. Coleman.  American Educator

‘Education was the main thing’  Integrity, tenacity served Richard Riley as SC Governor and Secretary of Education. Most of all, he never gave up.  The State

The newest section of WhatWorkSC, “Building Strong School Leadership,” has been released.  This is one of the areas that South Carolina citizens have described as key in improving the state’s public schools. See Furman’s Press Release

WhatWorksSC Adds New Section On School Leadership. UpstateBizSC

September 2010

The Riley Institute at Furman University has released another portion of its online information resource WhatWorks SC:

• A new section, “Dropout Prevention Strategies” has been released, The Post and Courier
• New educational materials about dropout prevention strategies. See Furman’s Press Release

July 2010

Read more about what people are saying about WhatWorksSC: A new section, “Improving Learning in the Early Years,” has been released, The Post and Courier

April 2010

Terry Peterson, advisor to the Riley Institute at Furman and Chairman of the Afterschool Alliance, received the C.S. Mott Foundations’s prestigious national William S. White Achievement Award, read more.

Read what people are saying about WhatWorksSC:

• Riley Institute offers teachers, legislators ideas for improving K-12 education, The Greenville News
• Study ties public ideas to education, The Sun News
• Riley Institute unveils second phase of public education study, UpstateBizSC
• Study gives look at best ideas in SC schools, The State
• Education victories tallied, The Post and Courier
• Schools are the subject, The Greenville Journal
• What Works in S.C. schools, The Post and Courier

August 2009

Michelin North America has adopted eight South Carolina elementary schools this fall, with thousands of
Michelin employees helping thousands of youngsters statewide through the Michelin Challenge Education
program. Greenville News

July 2009

“A roadmap for making schools more useful” by J. Chester Floyd and Cathy Stevens, click here.

June 2009

“It’s time to do school differently,” an editorial written by Secretary Richard W. Riley, click here.

January 2009

RILEY INSTITUTE AT FURMAN RECEIVES $150,000 GRANT FROM THE SYLVAN/LAUREATE FOUNDATION

The Richard W. Riley Institute at Furman University has received a $150,000 Sylvan/Laureate Foundation grant to support programs and research at its Center for Education Policy and Leadership. The center will use the money to continue its mission of reforming education policy in South Carolina, improving schools and providing more learning opportunities for students and teachers. The full press release is available here.

November 2008

Following a presentation by the Riley Institute in Barnwell, South Carolina on findings from the Institute’s education study, Barnwell community members got together to brainstorm solutions to problems within their county’s schools. An article written about this session, “Searching for scholastic solutions,” appeared in The People-Sentinel.

Michelin North America donates to SC “Schools of the Future” project; Riley Institute is Partner on Project. The Riley Institute co-sponsored the event and is also a partner on the Inside-Out project. Inside-Out Centers for Learning build on the results of the Riley Institute’s large statewide study of public education in South Carolina, directly addressing some of the strategies highlighted in the study as essential for improving our public schools. South Carolina was one of two states to receive this award. For photos, click here, for the news release, click here, to read more about the state of South Carolina’s strong commitment to supporting state-wide reform, click here.

September 2008

To view the article, Before the ‘Either-Or’ Era; Reviving Bipartisanship to Improve America’s Schools by Richard W. Riley and Terry K. Peterson, click here.

July 2008

HEWLETT FOUNDATION AWARDS RILEY INSTITUTE AT FURMAN ADDITIONAL $400,000
TO SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION STUDY

The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation has awarded the Riley Institute at Furman University a $400,000 grant to support its continuing research and policy programming on public education in South Carolina. This grant brings total funding for Furman project to $1 million. The full press release is available here, The Greenville News 

April 2008

“State cannot afford just minimally adequate education,” The Greenville News.

“Minimally adequate education ‘unaffordable’ ” Beaufort Gazette

December 2007

Brooke Culclasure and Cathy Stevens were guests on National Public Radio’s program “Speaking of Schools.” For more information, check the results page.

November 2007

“Grassroots movement needed to improve schools” by Andy Brack in the Charleston Regional Business Journal

October 2007

Editorials written about the public school system:

• “Groundbreaking study shows path to better SC schools” by John Simpkins, Charleston Post & Courier
• “The opportunities of afterschool,” The State
• “South Carolinians agree on how to improve education” by Brooke Culclasure and Cathy Stevens, The Greenville News

September 2007

The Riley Institute’s Center for Education Policy and Leadership is proud to announce that after more than 3,000 hours of interviews with nearly 800 people representing every school district in South Carolina, the results are in for the largest and most comprehensive study ever done on public, K-12 education in the state. View the full press release here.

Several articles have been written around the state and are available here.

• “Study: S.C. residents want politicians to work together to improve schools,” Aiken Standard
• “Furman study: Three steps would help education” (researchers find support for reform among parents, educators, businesspeople) The Greenville News
• “Education study finds consensus,” Charleston Post & Courier
• “Furman: Public clear on education priorities,” The State
• “Furman study identifies strategies for improving education,” Greenville Journal
• “Grassroots plan for improving S.C. education,” The Times and Democrat
• “Study: Residents want high teacher quality,” Myrtle Beach Online 

Editorials that have been written are available here:

• “S.C. study offers promising blueprint for education,” The Greenville News
• “Strong consensus for better schools,” Charleston Post and Courier

May 2007

“Blueprint for Public Education” by Cathy Stevens, Furman Magazine

June 2006

“Education to be key election issue — again” by Andy Brack, SC Statehouse Report

May 2006

“An early start is better when it comes to education” by Andy Brack, Charleston Regional Business Journal

April 2006

The Riley Institute’s Center for Education Policy and Leadership announced that it is conducting a comprehensive study of public education in South Carolina. Funded by a $600,000 grant from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the study collected data through focus group and survey research. Participants were drawn from the primary stakeholder groups in the state’s public education system, including business people, teachers, parents, students, principals, superintendents, and members of school boards. Research sessions were conducted in 16 locations around the state.

• Study shows South Carolina Superintendents favor strong early childhood education. The Center for Education announces the statewide study, Furman University news release
• Top Rated Strategies for the Early Years and Early Grades: Strategies Rated “Essential” or “Important” by Superintendents is included in the executive summary of the study, click here
• “Education study seeks ideas for change,” The Greenville News 
  
• “Redesigning Schools,” The Greenville News
  
• “Superintendents back early education,” The Post and Courier 
  
• “Early education a good investment for South Carolina,” Hilton Head Island Packet